Chicago Mulls Bike Tax

[SpokeValley]

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_BICYCLE_TAX?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2013-12-26-13-48-49

[93legendti]

Why not?
For the middle class...and the children...it's basic fairness...:rolleyes:

The land of tax and tax and tax...I am sure 2014 will be the best year yet in Chicago.


"A slew of tax and fee increases are set to hit Chicagoans in 2014 on everything from water, cigarettes and cable TV to property taxes and parking violations."

http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2013-12-23/news/ct-chicago-new-taxes-fees-met-20131222_1_taxes-chicago-parking-meters-llc-city-water

[Jgrooms]

I'll go for the $4 new bike tax, but you are not putting a plate on my bike(s).

[jmoore]

I'd pay the $25 fee if they make an annoucement that says something like "this new fee we are now collecting means that bicyclists now have access to every road and should be treated the same as an other vehicle on the road."

PS - I know we have that right already but I'd love to see Rahm Emmanual get on TV and stress that little point.

[mbrtool]

I have no problem with a bike tax; actually I'd gladly pay $100 annually to have the North Branch bike path plowed but not salted.

[Jgrooms]

Reg is first step to more control. This is more than about revenue.

[Gsinill]

i have no problem with a bike tax; actually i'd gladly pay $100 annually to have the north branch bike path plowed but not salted.

+1

[Ahneida Ride]

Lincoln Neb had a bike registration fee in the late 1970's.

You had to place a sticker on your bike.

The fee was nominal.

[BumbleBeeDave]

. . . unenforceable.

Exempt kids? If they do, what's the age? How do they enforce that? Stop every kid and somehow make them prove they are young enough to be exempt?

Enforcing on adults . . . stop every bike on the lake front trail--and everywhere else--to make them prove they are nonresidents? Tourism industry will go berserk.

General enforcement . . . It will only be a matter of time before some poor lower-class resident riding their beater bike to their minimum wage job tries to run when cops want to see his sticker, rides into traffic and gets mowed down, and media and the public crucify the authorities.

Totally unenforceable unless they have a tax on new bikes, collected at purchase . . . and all that would do is drive purchases to the suburbs with the attendant howls from in-city vendors.

BBD

[BumbleBeeDave]

. . . and this would be a whole 'nother level of enforcement needed.

BBD

Lincoln Neb had a bike registration fee in the late 1970's.

You had to place a sticker on your bike.

The fee was nominal.

[#campyuserftw]

Many illegals in America use bikes. How would Chicago handle this?

Skateboard tax.
Roller skate tax.
Rollerblade tax.
Jogging tax.
Walking tax.
Kite-flying tax.
Breathing tax; this is a slope made to slip with money and control going towards Big Government. I'd like to see New York State come after me for a $25.00 Bike Tax, and I'd suggest Chicago focus on it's very real and public issue: Chicago crimes, gangs and homicide.

Increase the tariff towards China and Taiwan, tax them on bikes imported to America, take that tax and put it towards American cyclist's needs:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chicken_tax

LOL and pointed from the article, "Chicago is by no means the only place across the U.S. tempted to see bicyclists as a possible new source of revenue, only to run into questions of fairness and enforceability...It's not a new idea. The Netherlands, where a cycling lifestyle has long been the norm, had bike taxes from 1924 to 1941, when the Nazis did away with it in a gesture meant to win over the Dutch."

I might be okay with this, a one-time fee whereby a few dollars from each new bike purchase goes towards bike infrastructure, as seen in Colorado. It'd be transparent and less promoted. That said, if $4.00 is raised per-new bike sales, does the $4.00 actually get to the bike infrastructure, or does it get lost within government shell games?

The government has proven it cannot be trusted to balance a budget, let alone balance a brick. Should New York State want $25.00 for an Annual Bike Tax, I'll quote Elizabeth Warren from Mass: none of those public roads belong to anyone, and my current sky-high taxes already pay for village, town, county, state and Federal roads that support all pedestrians, trucks, cars and yes, bikes.

The problem isn't bikes or bikers, it's governmental greed seeking any form of tax, and that ought to be told to the chubby, fat cat Chicago legislators. "I really think that legislators are just trying to be as creative as possible and as open to any sort of possibilities to fill in any funding gaps. Everything is on the table" said National Conference of State Legislatures policy specialist Douglas Shinkle.

Can we have a new American Legislator Tax? If you work as a paid American politician, your taxes, poof, just went up 10%. Why? Put your money where your mouth is, and secondly, you'll think twice before you spend OPM (other people's money).

[FlashUNC]

I'm all for it, provided there's one alteration to the bill.

Car makes contact with a cyclist where the car is at fault? Minimum charge of assault, totally mandatory.

[raygunner]

This tax would just represent be one more nail in the coffin of this one great city!

But yeah, I'm sure Rahm will push it because of "basic fairness" or "for the children". Tribune columnist John Kass called this one awhile ago.

And it's great fodder! Let's get people talking about the bike tax and not the almost 500 homicides that occurred Chicago in year 2013.

[raygunner]

I have no problem with a bike tax; actually I'd gladly pay $100 annually to have the North Branch bike path plowed but not salted.

Uh, isn't the North Branch property of Cook County?

Be my guest & send Crook County another $100 out of your own pocket. But I'd like to keep more of the money I earn!

Isn't your property tax bill high enough?!

[Admiral Ackbar]

I'm no expert on the issue but i know several states in the past (present??) have had bike registration/tax fees, i have an old Giant mtb with california and oregon bicycle license/registration stickers on them. its certainly not a terrible idea imo, just comes down to the execution, would i pay $100 for it? f*ck no. it doesn't even cost me that much to register my car. i think it would be especially excellent if those funds went to expand bicycle infrastructure but thats doubtful

[sjbraun]

"The problem isn't bikes or bikers, it's governmental greed seeking any form of tax"

Do you really think of the government as a unified entity with with the goal of creating wealth by taking it from you?

I think your personifying government with qualities it doesn't possess.

[raygunner]

"The problem isn't bikes or bikers, it's governmental greed seeking any form of tax"

Do you really think of the government as a unified entity with with the goal of creating wealth by taking it from you?

I think your personifying government with qualities it doesn't possess.

Chicago under Rahm might be inching towards that goal...

They really have to balance out the finances from everything the former Mayor Daley stole and/or gave away to his clouted buddies. But look out Detroit, here we come!

[93legendti]

Everything the govt "gives" someone was taken from another. Under the threat of audit, asset seizure and/or jail. Some people consider that immense power. The ruling class explicitly stated that increased taxes were necessary to help the middle class. It's never worked before and hasn't worked this time, but that hasn't stopped them from insisting upon increased taxes. As the link I posted states, Chicago has a slew of tax increases for 2014. Just wait till 2015 when these increases harm the economy even further.

[#campyuserftw]

"The problem isn't bikes or bikers, it's governmental greed seeking any form of tax"

Do you really think of the government as a unified entity with with the goal of creating wealth by taking it from you?

I think your personifying government with qualities it doesn't possess.

I don't believe our government, when it comes to taxing it's citizens, balancing budgets, and creating debt, has many, if any qualities.

I believe government is a unified entity with the goal of a). getting re-elected and b). advancing their agenda. I believe government, politicians, take money in whatever form it/they can to continue to do A & B.

The lady who proposed the idea, Alderman Dowell, admitted, "I haven't thought it through completely". This is a quality of a great politician. You go girl with your bright ideas, just use the 20 watt bulb, instead of the 100 watter.

http://chi.streetsblog.org/2013/10/24/no-a-bike-license-fee-doesnt-make-any-sense/

It's about trying to find revenue. Tax the citizens. The Rahm plan had the government income via increased Cable Television Tax. Alderman Dowell had a 20 watt idea, "Alderman Patricia Dowell (3rd, Bronzeville, South Loop) floated the idea yesterday that Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s budget proposal to raise the cable television tax could be eliminated by charging a licensing fee to ride a bicycle instead. She pegged the fee at about $25 a year and said one would have to complete one hour of classroom education to receive the license to ride a bicycle."

Clearly Chicago's Representatives, like most politicians, are looking for the next way to CYA with tax revenue.

Emanuel shot the idea down:

http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2013-10-24/news/chi-alderman-wants-25-bike-registration-fee-20131023_1_chicago-ideas-week-bike-rental-program-first-protected-bike-lane

"Mayor Rahm Emanuel's vision of Chicago as a bike-friendly metropolis found itself in the cross hairs of an alderman's proposal for a $25 bike tax Wednesday.

South Side Ald. Pat Dowell, 3rd, floated a plan to charge bike owners an annual $25 registration fee as a way to raise millions of dollars next year and provide an alternative to the mayor's proposal to hike cable television taxes to bring in about $9 million. Dowell also said she wants to require bikers to take a "rules of the road" safety class.
Emanuel, who this month led a bicycle tour of the Logan Square neighborhood as part of Chicago Ideas Week, said he would look at Dowell's plan. But he then linked his pro-cyclist agenda with recent success in drawing technology firms to the city, and essentially laid out why he almost certainly won't support the idea.

"The two are not correlated, but it's not an accident Google and Motorola decided to move their headquarters where the first protected bike lane went, and also where you have a good mass transit stop," Emanuel said in a meeting with the Tribune editorial board after unveiling his proposed 2014 budget.

"She can propose it. It's her idea. But I would argue I don't think that's the right way to go," Emanuel said.

Without the mayor's backing, Dowell's plan stands very little chance of success.

Since he took office, Emanuel has introduced protected bike lanes, increased the number of bike lanes citywide and launched the popular Divvy bike rental program.

Cyclists riding on Wednesday bike-friendly Milwaukee Avenue took a dim view of the tax idea.

Jourdon Gullett, of Chicago, said Dowell's plan seemed "a little extreme."

"Are they going to make every little kid riding down the sidewalk get one?" Gullett asked.

Ron Burke, executive director of the Active Transportation Alliance, said he doesn't know of a single U.S. city with a bicycle licensing program. While many cities have considered it, the idea is always rejected as too complicated and unlikely to generate enough revenue to cover costs, Burke said.

"We share the goal of wanting to improve safety, but we think there are better ways to achieve it," he said.

Biker Jessica Smith said she was prepared to flout the rule.

"I'd probably just ignore it," she said, laughing.

Emanuel nodded at the difficulty of enforcing such registration, especially in a city with entrenched violent crime. "I surely don't want police involved in policing whether you bought a bike license," he said."

[sjbraun]

"I believe government is a unified entity with the goal of a). getting re-elected and b). advancing their agenda. I believe government, politicians, take money in whatever form it/they can to continue to do A & B."

Government doesn't get re-elected, politicians do. Not sure that government has an agenda. Will grant you that the ruling class has an agenda, but I don't think the ruling class is equivalent to the government. I think the government serves as a tool for the ruling class. Look at all the protections, tax breaks, and subsidies the ruling class receives from the "government."

[#campyuserftw]

Not sure that government has an agenda. Will grant you that the ruling class has an agenda, but I don't think the ruling class is equivalent to the government. I think the government serves as a tool for the ruling class. Look at all the protections, tax breaks, and subsidies the ruling class receives from the "government."

This ruling-class you speak of, who are they? :confused:

"Sociologist, C. Wright Mills, argued that the ruling class differs from the power elite. The latter simply refers to the small group of people with the most political power. Many of them are politicians, hired political managers, and military leaders." Sounds like you mean the power-elite.

Many hate Big Business, the power-elite, but those same people don't mind paying More Big Taxes (to the power in office so long as their party holds the office). The biggest business? Federal Government is the # 1 employer. So if a politician places a 'I Hate Big Business/Power Elite/Ruling Class' bumper sticker on their car, couldn't it be interpreted as, "I Hate Myself"? :)

Every ruler, government, politician, party, lobby, class, corporation and military element has an agenda. I don't think they wake up every day with a, "Look there's a squirrel!" strategy/plan of attack. Even though if it seems so of late. ;)

On topic. What is your opinion of the OP's topic? Chicago. Bike Tax. You agree or disagree? Are you prepared to pay a Bike Tax so that others won't have a Cable TV Tax? The nation's third largest city is staring at bankruptcy, trying not to follow Detroit, while looking at a Bike Tax for a fix.

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/12/05/us/chicago-pursues-deal-to-change-pension-funding.html

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-12-05/pension-threats-in-illinois-detroit-rattle-government-workers.html

http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2013/12/04/illinois-oks-pension-cuts-in-landmark-reform/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ruling_class

[mbrtool]

Wow, lot of feedback on a simple premise. Our your lives really so affected by taxes?

[fogrider]

I don't have a problem paying a tax for a service. But drivers should understand the value to them when someone else is on a bike = one less car.

Sent from my XT1053 using Tapatalk

[Ahneida Ride]

Yes ... I want to pay a ride my bike tax in addition to ...

1 . Accounts Receivable Tax
2. Accounting and Tax Preparation (cost to taxpayers $300 billion)
3. Accumulated Earnings Tax
4. Accumulation Distribution of Trusts
5. Activity Fee (Dumping Permit Fee)
6 . Air Tax (PA coin-operated vacuums)
7. Aircraft Jet Fuel Tax
8. Aircraft Excise Tax
9 . Alcohol Fuels Tax
10. Alcoholic Beverage Tax
11. Alternative Minimum Tax – Amt
12. Ambulance Services (Air Ambulance Services, SD)
13. Ammunition Tax
14. Amusement Tax (MA, VA, MD)
15. Animal Slaughter Tax (WI, others, Per Animal)
16. Annual Custodial Fees (Ira Accounts)
17. Ballast Water Management Fee (Marine Invasive Species)
18. Biodiesel Fuel Tax
19. Blueberry Tax (Maine)
20. Bribe Taxes (Pay If You Dare)
21. Brothel licensing fees
22. Building Permit Tax
23. Capital Gains Tax
24. California Interstate User Diesel Fuel Tax
25. California Redemption Value (Can and Bottle Tax)
26. CDL License Tax
27. Charter Boat Captain License
28. Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Fee
29. Cigarette Tax
30. Cigarette Tax Stamp (Acts) (Distributors)
31. Compressed Natural Gas Tax
32. Commercial Activity Tax (OH – for Service Providers)
33. Corporate Income Tax
34. Court Fines (Indirect Taxes)
35. County Property Tax
36. Disposable Diapers Tax (Wisconsin)
37. Disposal Fee (Any Landfill Dumping)
38. Dog License Tax
39. Duck Hunting Tax Stamp (PA, others)
40. Electronic Waste Recycling Fee (E-Waste)
41. Emergency Telephone User Surcharge
42. Environmental Fee (CA – HazMat Fees)
43. Estate Tax (Death Tax, to be reinstated)
44. Excise Taxes
45. Facility Fee (CA – HazMat Fees)
46. FDIC tax (insurance premium on bank deposits)
47. Federal Income Tax
48. Federal Unemployment Tax (FUTA)
49. Fiduciary Income Tax (Estates and Trusts)
50. Fishing License Tax
51. Flush Tax (MD Tax For Producing Wastewater)
52. Food License Tax
53. Fountain Soda Drink Tax (Chicago – 9%)
54. Franchise Tax
55. Fresh Fruit (CA, if Purchased From A Vending Machine)
56. Fuel Gross Receipts Tax (Retail/Distributor)
57. Fuel Permit Tax
58. Fur Clothing Tax (MN)
59. Garbage Tax
60. Gasoline Tax (475 Cents Per Gallon)
61. Generation-Skipping Transfer Tax
62. Generator Fee (Recycled Waste Fee)
63. Gift Tax
64. Gross Receipts Tax
65. Habitat Stamp (Hunting/Fishing in some states)
66. Hamburger Tax
67. Hazardous Substances Fees: Generator, Facility, Disposal
68. Highway Access Fee
69. Household Employment Taxes
70. Hunting License Tax
71. Illegal Drug Possession (No Carolina)
72. Individual Income Tax
73. Inheritance Tax
74. Insect Control Hazardous Materials License
75. Insurance Premium Tax
76. Intangible Tax (Leases Of Govt. Owned Real Property)
77. Integrated Waste Management Fee
78. Interstate User Diesel Fuel Tax
79. Inventory Tax
80. IRA Rollover Tax (a transfer of IRA money)
81. IRA Early Withdrawal Tax
82. IRS Interest Charges
83. IRS Penalties (Tax On Top Of Tax)
84. Jock Tax (income earned by athletes in some states)
85. Kerosene, Distillate, & Stove Oil Taxes
86. Kiddie Tax (Child’s Earned Interest Form 8615)
87. Land Gains and Real Estate Withholding
88. Lead Poisoning Prevention Fee (Occupational)
89. Lease Severance Tax
90. Library Tax
91. Liquid Natural Gas Tax
92. Liquid Petroleum Gas Tax
93. Liquor Tax
94. Litigation Tax (TN Imposes Varies With the Offense)
95. LLC/PLLC Corporate Registration Tax
96. Local Income Tax
97. Lodging Taxes
98. Lump-Sum Distributions
99. Luxury Taxes
100. Make-Up Tax (Ohio, applying in a salon is taxable)
101. Marriage License Tax
102. Meal Tax
103. Medicare Tax
104. Mello-Roos Taxes (Special Taxes and Assessments)
105. Migratory Waterfowl Stamp (addition to hunting license)
106. Minnow Dealers License (Retail – For One Shop)
107. Minnow Dealers License (Distributor – For One+ Shops)
108. Mobile Home Ad Valorem Taxes
109. Motor Fuel Tax (For Suppliers)
110. Motor Vehicle Tax
111. Music and Dramatic Performing Rights Tax
112. Nudity Tax (Utah)
113. Nursery Registration (Buying and selling plants)
114. Occupancy Inspection Fees
115. Occupation Taxes and Fees (Various Professional Fees)
116. Oil and Gas Assessment Tax
117. Oil Spill Response, Prevention, and Administration Fee
118. Parking Space Taxes
119. Pass-Through Withholding
120. Pay-Phone Calls Tax (Indiana)
121. Percolation Test Fee
122. Personal Property Tax
123. Personal Holding Company (undistributed earnings)
124. Pest Control License
125. Petroleum Business Tax
126. Playing Card Tax (Al)
127. Pole Tax (TX – A $5 Cover Charge On Strip Clubs)
128. Profit from Illegal Drug Dealing
129. Property Tax
130. Property Transfer Tax (DE, ownership transfer between parties)
131. Prostitution Tax (NV – Prostitute Work Permits)
132. Poultry Registered Premises License (Sales License)
133. Rain Water Tax (Runoff after a Storm)
134. Rat Control Fee (CA)
135. Real Estate Tax
136. Recreational Vehicle Tax
137. Refrigerator and Freezer Recycling Fees
138. Regional Transit Taxing Authority (Trains)
139. Road Usage Tax
140. Room Tax (Hotel Rooms)
141. Sales Tax (State)
142. Sales Tax (City)
143. Sales And Use Tax (Sellers Permit)
144. School Tax
145. Service Charge Tax
146. Self Employment Tax
147. Septic And Drain Field Inspection Fees
148. Sex Sales Tax (UT, when nude people perform services)
149. Sewer & Water Tax
150. Social Security Tax
151. Sparkler and Novelties Tax (WV Sellers of Sparklers, etc)
152. Special Assessment Tax (Not Ad Valorem)
153. State Documentary Stamp Tax on Notes (FL RE Tax)
154. State Franchise Tax
155. State Income Tax
156. State Park Fees
157. State Unemployment Tax (SUTA)
158. Straight Vegetable Oil (SVO) Fuel Tax
159. Stud Fees (Kentucky’s Thoroughbred Sex Tax)
160. Tangible Personal Property Tax
161. Tattoo Tax (AR Tax On Tattoos)
162. Telephone 911 Service Tax (some states)
163. Telephone Federal Excise Tax
164. Telephone Federal Universal Service Fee Tax
165. Telephone Federal Surcharge Taxes
166. Telephone State Surcharge Taxes
167. Telephone Local Surcharge Taxes
168. Telephone Minimum Usage Surcharge Tax
169. Telephone Recurring Charges Tax
170. Telephone Universal Access Tax
171. Telephone Non-Recurring Charges Tax
172. Telephone State Usage Charge Tax
173. Telephone Local Usage Charge Tax
174. Tire Recycling Fee
175. Tobacco Tax (Cigar, Pipe, Consumer Tax)
176. Tobacco Tax (Cigar, Pipe, Dealer Tax)
177. Toll Road Taxes
178. Toll Bridge Taxes
179. Toll Tunnel Taxes
180. Tourism or Concession License Fee
181. Traffic Fines (Indirect Taxation)
182. Transportable Treatment Unit Fee (Small Facility)
183. Trailer Registration Tax
184. Trout Stamp (Addendum To Fish License)
185. Use Taxes (On Out-Of-State Purchases)
186. Utility Taxes
187. Unemployment Tax
188. Underground Storage Tank Maintenance Fee
189. Underpayment of Estimated Tax (Form 2210)
190. Unreported Tip Income (Social Security and Medicare Tax)
191. Vehicle License
192. Vehicle Recovery Tax (CO, to find stolen cars)
193. Vehicle Registration Tax
194. Vehicle Sales Tax
195. Wagering Tax (Tax on Gambling Winnings)
196. Waste Vegetable Oil (WVO) Fuel Tax
197. Water Rights Fee
198. Watercraft Registration Tax
199. Waterfowl Stamp Tax
200. Well Permit Tax
201. Wiring Inspection Fees
202. Workers Compensation Tax

and let's not forget the federal reserve system dilution tax ..... 6% per year

[Germany_chris]

Wow, lot of feedback on a simple premise. Our your lives really so affected by taxes?

No it's just the boomers i.e. the "me" generation out enforce again

[93legendti]

Hey, govt is good. The bigger the better.


"NEW YORK (CNNMoney)
The Securities and Exchange Commission and the Illinois state government have reached a settlement over charges that the state defrauded investors by not giving them proper information about its pension funds."
http://money.cnn.com/2013/03/11/news/economy/illinois-fraud-sec/index.html


Tax them all, I say.
http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/20121023/NEWS02/121029966/illinois-tax-burden-now-ranked-11th-highest

[fuzzalow]

Tax them all, I say.
http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/20121023/NEWS02/121029966/illinois-tax-burden-now-ranked-11th-highest

Who is the "them" you are referring to?

New York has the highest tax burden as quoted from that article. Swapping places with Illinois in going from 1st to 11th would be just swell. I dunno if that's true or not but I just pay it. Whaddaya gonna do?

Back to the OP: Don't understand the villainization of Mayor Emmanuel in some of the responses, the bike tax wasn't his proposal. The entire thing is meaningless grandstanding by some two-bit pol playing to a mob.

[oldpotatoe]

No it's just the boomers i.e. the "me" generation out enforce again

http://www.generationme.org/aboutbook.html

[1centaur]

Two good topics, government and taxes, and the Chicago bike tax. Fine to talk about both.

Government is made up of mix of people, all of whom have some ability to influence what people are allowed to do, encouraged to do, and how much money to extract from parts of the public while paying out to other parts. Naturally, being people, they approach it in different ways that reflect some combination of world view and personal preferences. The range goes from an instinct to take little, give little and maximize freedom of action to take a lot, give a lot and control as many actions as they can get away with because they know better. Critically, mixed in with the believers are the gamers, who use the system to benefit personally, use the language of the believers to garner votes and co-opt their colleagues, but skillfully push levers to win money and power over time, sometimes with some personal animus against the opposition along the way. Seeing what you can get people to do can be addictive to a certain type of person.

The reactions to all of the above by the governed similarly range across a continuum from those who don't want to pay and don't want much to those who don't pay and want a lot, with sympathizers in the middle leaning either way and some significant number influenced by guilt and social pressure to endorse the pay more/give more credo (usually if others do most of the paying).

Within the confines of figuring out how much can/should be extracted, the choices are infinite, whether it's bike registration fees or using "fair share" as a constantly moving target. The gamers and the takers can always isolate small portions of the populace and make them pay in to the system because the majority does not share the burden. There are infinite minorities to extract from and an equal number of indifferent non-paying majorities. What a landscape for gamers to operate in. Add in the true believers who look at things at a micro level like the bike registration alderman, who propose things without fully thinking things through, and the possibilities stretch forever. It would take an overriding philosophy of non-extraction to limit those possibilities, and feeding the growth of government is a self-perpetuating thing if that non-extraction philosophy is not shared by the voters. This is why democracies are expected not to succeed in the long run.

So in the context of all that, the Chicago bike tax both makes sense (there are specific costs that benefit a minority group so why not make them pay for their good?) and seems like persecution (the majority benefit in more subtle ways from a greater % of miles accomplished by bike) and so gamers (Rahm knows how to game and I don't know about his genuine beliefs) can play it either way to see how the wind blows in the polls.

Me, with my philosophy, I would not use "registration" and bike lessons to extract money from the riding minority. I might consider building in some extraction to the for-hire bike prices and linking those revenues in the budget so the majority could see the offset. But I'd really want to increase cycling so I got that population closer to a majority, who pay taxes anyway.

[zap]

Wow, lot of feedback on a simple premise. Our your lives really so affected by taxes?

Relative.

I suspect much depends on where you live. Ask yourself, five years from now what impact would an additional US$5,000 each year in local and state taxes (non income) have on your family.

I'm ok with paying taxes…to some level. But at some point you have to ask-why this ever increasing amount. Our schools were excellent 10 years ago……they are just as good now.

With regards to a bicycle tax, my view is that it would just become another revenue stream for some local governments. I doubt we will see such tax in our county outside D.C. as there is interest in getting cars off roads.

[Germany_chris]

http://www.generationme.org/aboutbook.html

I understand the origins, but we've been on a steady decline since about 1970 and even sharper since 2000 or so when you guy fully took the reins of power.

[oldpotatoe]

I understand the origins, but we've been on a steady decline since about 1970 and even sharper since 2000 or so when you guy fully took the reins of power.

tee hee...gonna go collect my social security and USNavy pension check right now.

Besides, how's the tax rate in Germany, for Germans?

[Germany_chris]

tee hee...gonna go collect my social security and USNavy pension check right now.

Besides, how's the tax rate in Germany, for Germans?

I know you are, and you'll enjoy that TriCare too :p

about 40% plus VAT..services provided are much better..

[oldpotatoe]

I know you are, and you'll enjoy that TriCare too :p

about 40% plus VAT..services provided are much better..

Oh, I do(Tri-care), health same as before retire(which was very good) and about $600 premium, per year(yep, per year), same as members of congress.

[#campyuserftw]

Oh, I do(Tri-care), health same as before retire(which was very good) and about $600 premium, per year(yep, per year), same as members of congress.

Did your wife use TriCare? If she did, and if she's over 65, she doesn't use TriCare any longer, the VA would force her away. Unlike before.

[#campyuserftw]

Wow, lot of feedback on a simple premise. Our your lives really so affected by taxes?

Unemployment sky high. Family budgets are super tight. Cost of living over the past decade versus increase of income, all bad. Extended Great Recession for nearly a decade. Housing market crashed, 401K's did too, and our national debt took off like an Atlas rocket. College graduates looking at their degrees, debt, and no job. Not blaming any one person or group. Things are what they are.

We live in a society where most people will fight over Paypal fees, but some shrug at a new tax? Most will fight their cell phone provider over a mistake on their bill related to text messages or long distance call, but they'll shrug at a new tax? Most will whine about the cost of a beer and hot dog at US Cellular Field, but not a tax to fund some obscure program? Gas prices vary by a dime at the pump...it's national news, and we all feel the financial impacts.

Thankfully the Bike Tax in Chicago was shot down. The legislator who conjured up the idea was quickly embarrassed. "Shoe tax for walkers" was poked at her, and the catalyst for the bike tax idea? Chicagoans were fighting a Cable Bill Tax, so an IL legislator conjured up a different segment to tax...cyclists. Brilliant!

Lastly, it is a scary thing: tax bikers-only claiming the city requires extra effort to clear bike lanes from snow? Bikers aren't paying their fair share as the thrust for a new tax? What is next? Registration and insurance for your human-powered bike?

Mayor Emanuel has been a power advocate of cycling. According to the article above, "In Chicago, Mayor Rahm Emanuel has made bike lanes and bike programs a signature issue, believing it makes downtown an attractive place for bright young people and innovative companies. More bikes means less pollution, less traffic congestion, practically zero wear and tear on the city’s roads and a healthier population."

He stated the bike tax idea has two flat tires. A smart idea. Bike Tax in Chicago is a dumb idea to generate revenue for a city that already spends money like a drunken sailor in port, a city that is inches away from becoming the next Detroit.

Successful, retired capitalists, who made their money, and want to save or tax the planet? Let them. Just let them use their own money, not ours. Taxes are and shall always be a germane topic in America, twas the catalyst for our rebellion, and birth as the most powerfully free country in the history of Earth.

[93legendti]

...We live in a society where most people will fight over Paypal fees, but some shrug at a new tax[/B]?...

Scary, but true.

[mbrtool]

After today's ride I'd pay $200.00 to have them plow but not salt the North Branch bike path.

[#campyuserftw]

After today's ride I'd pay $200.00 to have them plow but not salt the North Branch bike path.

Humor is paramount with and to politics! :)

:beer: