Municipalities and States are broke. They need more income. Their primary source of revenue is taxation. New methods are constantly sought. It is like building the better mouse trap. Do it and get rich.
The taxation target this time is a tax on bicycles. The ordinary common two wheeler. A furor has arisen where it has been attempted. In the rare locations it has been adopted, the people have come to accept it.
The tax can take several forms. A one time tax at the time of purchase. In addition to whatever the sales tax is, of course. A set fee to be paid every year. These two are the most common. A decal or mini license is attached to the bicycle upon payment.
The taxing consideration has come to light because of Chicago's treatment of bicycles. Mayor Rahm Emanuel sees wisdom in bikes as a mode of transportation in a large busy city. His cry is drive bikes and not cars.
He has had miles of bike paths constructed. He has instituted a "grab and go" bicycle program whereby a person desiring to travel from point A to point B hops on a free bicycle at A and leaves it at B. Some one else is then free to use the bicycle.
Rahm believes there is less pollution to the environment, less traffic congestion, almost no wear and tear on the streets, and a healthier population.
Chicago even has mini plows to keep the bike paths snow free.
A Chicago council person recently suggested that the additional costs of plowing, maintenance and construction of bike paths should be borne by the bike riders. Her suggestion was a tax of $25 per year per bike.
Her words fell on deaf ears. A Chicago resident thought that if the bike tax were to become law, then the city should charge people a shoe tax to use the sidewalks.
Several states have tried to tax bicycles. Georgia, Oregon, Washington, and Vermont being the most recent. The attempts failed. Oregon's proposed law had a mean streak to it. Bicycles owned by children were to be taxed also.
Ed Orcutt is a Washington state legislator. He argued in support of the bicycle tax on the grounds that bike riders pollute the environment. They ride hard resulting in an increased heart rate and respiration. As a result, bike riders produced more carbon dioxide than the dangerous emissions cars do. Orcutt sounds like some of our Washington, D.C. Congresspersons. Fruitcakes all. Orcutt is qualified to join their ranks.
In fairness, Orcutt said the tax would produce $10 million over 10 years and could be used to maintain roads.
Hawaii and Colorado Springs, Colorado have had bicycle taxes for years. A one time payment, the money going to bicycle infrastructure.
Worldwide, two nations come to mind.
Brazil intentionally has miles and miles of bike paths. So people can ride their bikes and view the beautiful ocean and magnificent foliage. Brazil has a one time tax at the time of purchase. The tax is 40.5 per cent of the cost of the bicycle. Wow! Automobiles sold in Brazil have only a 32 percent tax imposed.
The Nazis got into the act when they invaded Norway. There were many bike riders In Norway. Norway had imposed a bicycle tax in 1924 and the tax was still there when Hitler marched in. Norwegians were opposed to the tax. In an effort to win over the people, the Nazis eliminated the tax. It did them no good.
When I was 10 years old in Utica, N.Y., my parents bought me a bicycle. I was required to register it and get a metal license for the bike. My father took me to the fire station where the registration was done. It was a one time event. Registration was when you got the bike and never again. The cost was fifty cents. The purpose of the local law requiring the bike plate was not to raise money. It was to identify the bicycle in case of theft.
Some things governments should not do. Taxing bicycles is one of them. A Boston Tea Party of sorts could occur. Evidencing the wrath of an aroused people. Big trees from little acorns grow.
