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Those who bike to work......
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 2008-10-10 11:13 AM |
Pro 3715     AZ |  Subject: Those who bike to work......Bicyclists will benefit from $700 billion bailout Tucked inside a controversial $700 billion federal bailout bill is a tiny fringe benefit for bike commuters that has been pushed by the cycling community for the past seven years. The $240 annual benefit per person, or $20 per month, will reimburse bike commuters for things like bikes, tires, lights, locks, helmets, padded shorts and CamelBak hydration backpacks. "It's sort of an equity thing," said Andy Clarke, president of the League of American Bicyclists. "People who take transit and park their cars already get tax breaks Commuters who use mass transit such as light rail and city bus systems can receive up to $115 per month to offset their transit passes, plus an additional $220 per month to reimburse them for parking fees. Under the new program, commuters who ride bicycles to work will get their own, albeit smaller, fringe benefits. And like the program for mass-transit users, the new benefit is expected to come from employers to employees who submit receipts. Employers, in turn, get tax benefits for reimbursing their employees. Congressional Quarterly estimates the cost to taxpayers for this bicycle program will be about $10 million over 10 years. Bike commuters in the Valley cheered the news as giving legitimacy to riding to work on two wheels. "It sends a really good message that this is a viable alternative form of transportation for some people," said Maureen DeCindis, who rides her bike from Tempe to downtown Phoenix, where she works as a transportation planner for the Maricopa Association of Governments. "This is good now in this economic downturn because people are looking for ways to be resourceful." Radar Matt, an avid bicyclist in Ahwatukee and certified bicycle instructor and assistant education director for the Coalition of Arizona Bicyclists, said the tax break could encourage riders who have been sitting on the fence to commute to work on a bike. "It's certainly not stunning, but it gives people little bit of a break," he said. Matt and other advocates have been trying to determine how the cyclists would cash in on the breaks. Clarke, of the League of American Bicyclists, said he expects the details to be hammered out over the next couple of months before the program kicks in next year. The bike incentive is part of the renewable-energy-alternatives portion of the 451-page "Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008." "We did not choose the bailout package as the most common-sense or logical way to get this done," Clarke said. "The good news for bicycle commuters is that the bill has passed, and it's something we wanted for seven years." |
| 2008-10-10 11:50 AM in reply to: #1733102 |
Master 1759 Byhalia, Mississippi | Subject: RE: Those who bike to work...... I already had a fringe benefit in that when I am killed on my way to work (as there are very few roads between Peoria and Phoenix that have bike lanes and most drivers do not respect the 3' law) the State will pay my benifeciary a small token. |
| 2008-10-10 1:34 PM in reply to: #1733102 |
Expert 983 Tempe, Arizona (hot hot hot) | Subject: RE: Those who bike to work...... Do we realy need the Gov. to give us money to ride our bike. I am already saving a ton in gas. I would rather have the Gov. spend the money on new bike lanes. But it is cool that I can get some breaks. But I know my company dosn't care so will not be getting any money for this. |
| 2008-10-10 1:49 PM in reply to: #1733102 |
Master 2216 | Subject: RE: Those who bike to work...... Well, I didn't think I'd see myself on the side of Ox's (hehe, sorry Ox), but I'm in complete agreement with him. I'd rather see the govt. pay for lanes to help keep me from being killed, than for a water bottle. As I sit here watching the DOW jump off a cliff yet again, it just burns me up at how much PORK was in this bill to "rescue" us from what is happening right now! Hell, even NASCAR got their little bone thrown to them. Did the Bill state how many days or miles I need to bike to work to take advantage of this? I'm assuming it will be something else to itemize on my taxes. Where can we find the details? |
| 2008-10-10 2:08 PM in reply to: #1733102 |
| Pro 3715 AZ | Subject: RE: Those who bike to work...... NOT A POLITICAL THREAD! Just an FYI to those who ride to work and might want to take advantage of the program. Grrrrrrrrrrr you guys! |
| 2008-10-10 2:09 PM in reply to: #1733102 |
Elite 3221 the desert | Subject: RE: Those who bike to work...... do you have a link for this article? |
| 2008-10-10 2:32 PM in reply to: #1733102 |
Master 2216 | Subject: RE: Those who bike to work...... No offense, but if you didn't want a political thread, why did you post about a section of the Bail Out (which is political)? Just sayin' |
| 2008-10-10 3:08 PM in reply to: #1733772 |
Master 1759 Byhalia, Mississippi | Subject: RE: Those who bike to work...... cordova61 - 2008-10-10 12:32 PM No offense, but if you didn't want a political thread, why did you post about a section of the Bail Out (which is political)? Just sayin' There was no politics in the bail-out! Just the same old , different day! That said, the planning commisions in the Pheonis metro area, Maricopa county, or whoever else tosses money at roads has certainly failed in my area. I can take a bike lane from Carefree Hyway all the way down to 7th street, and then on random sections every other mile or so. Are they really smolking crack, or did they think that Arizona drivers are careful enough to put down their cell phones and watch the biker on their right on random sections of town without bike lanes. I for one would never have my cell phone to my ear while eating my big Mac and driving one of the ADOT road trucks (but I have seen them do it) part way in the limited bike lanes while steering with my knees!!!! |
| 2008-10-10 3:38 PM in reply to: #1733102 |
Expert 748 Big Bear City, California | Subject: RE: Those who bike to work...... Great news, it is definitely an incentive for me to commute more and I hope it will be for others as well. I think this is more likely to get people to commute than adding bike lanes to every road, the more people commute the more people complain about not having bike lanes, then presto! More bike lanes. I have to say though that I am more than pleased with the amount of bike lanes and planning out here when planning rides or commuting. I haven't ridden in other major cities but the fact that I can commute 18 miles with bike lanes 90% of the time makes me happy and I have found there is usually a low traffic option that may or may not have a bike lane. |
| 2008-10-10 5:35 PM in reply to: #1733102 |
| Pro 3715 AZ | Subject: RE: Those who bike to work...... Here's the link Fitzy: http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/2008/10/10/20081010bikebailout1010.html Regarding the political nature of the article...... Like Andy Clarke, president of the League of American Bicyclists states in the article: "We did not choose the bailout package as the most common-sense or logical way to get this done," Clarke said. "The good news for bicycle commuters is that the bill has passed, and it's something we wanted for seven years." The bike incentive is part of the renewable-energy-alternatives portion of the 451-page "Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008." |
| 2008-10-10 6:34 PM in reply to: #1733102 |
Master 2216 | Subject: RE: Those who bike to work...... the more people commute the more people complain about not having bike lanes, then presto! More bike lanes. I hope you're correct. Unfortunately, I don't think complaining is going to do the job. More deaths associated to bike commuting is probably what it will take before they do something in the low-income areas of our cities. (which I have to bike through). In order for me to commute to work, I have to go through some very crowded stretches of road. I'll say it now. I'm worried, because not only are bike lanes non-existent, but a fair amount of the population doesn't seem to care about the safety of bicyclists (or see them) in my work area. I would much rather have a safe route to work than $20 a month, and I know that this is a misappropriation of the funds to bail out those businesses. |
| 2008-10-12 8:44 PM in reply to: #1733531 |
Veteran 241 Phoenix | Subject: RE: Those who bike to work...... Oxofthedessert - 2008-10-10 11:34 AM Do we realy need the Gov. to give us money to ride our bike. I am already saving a ton in gas. I would rather have the Gov. spend the money on new bike lanes. But it is cool that I can get some breaks. But I know my company dosn't care so will not be getting any money for this. I completely agree. However, if the Government is going to be clowns and blow more money I would rather go to me and line my pockets than the jacka$$ that works at McDonalds that just had to have to that $400,000 house and his new matching quad! (oh wait they get help too!) |
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