Monday, January 16, 2006

Iowa bike tax

Iowa state legislator Polly Granzow has proposed a $5 tax on new bikes to help fund trail maintenance. The bill's author said she wrote the bill after hearing from disgruntled hunters and fishermen who complained that they have to pay user fees while cyclists don't.

What the article doesn't point out is that hunters and fishermen actually benefit from the user fees they pay. While many cyclists enjoy the benefits of paths and trails, not all Iowa cyclists ride off of the road.

Two years ago, an Iowa legislator introduced a bill banning cyclists from many Iowa highways.
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1 comment:

  1. toddJanuary 16, 2006 at 6:17 PM

    Whaaa?

    I mean, I don't have a huge objection to such a fee provided it actually goes to the purpose intended and not to the general fund.

    But the fee is based on the height of the bike?!?!? What the hell does that mean? Tall people pay more?

    And an exemption for Walmart and Target?!?!?! Talk about someone least needing an exemption. How about the truly struggling locally owned LBS? They're the only ones hit?

    Clearly this hasn't been though through.

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