Is the Bicycle Commuter Act more wealth redistribution for the South?

[taterguy]

Why should someone who lives where it's warm get a tax break just for biking to work?

People in the North would love to bike to work.

However, a choice between driving a car and enduring frost bite ain't much of a choice at all.

:grr: :grr: :grr:

[hobbit709]

1. Here it would be Ac or heatstroke.

[taterguy]

3. A can of Coca-Cola or any other fine Southern beverage

No more heat stroke.

[Realityhack]

10. You are displaying your sloppy thinking and ignorance. n/t

[taterguy]

12. Fine. Adequate physical conditioning and a Camelbak

Name one part of the continental US where that wouldn't work to prevent heat stroke.

That is, one part where there are actual places of employment.

Heat is annoying but it's not life threatening. Frost bite is.

[Realityhack]

15. And you think you will get frostbite in NC in appropriate winter garb?

Heat stroke is definitely life threatening BTW. Even as far north as Boston we have summer days when strenuous outdoor activity is recommended against.

Obviously biking to work will be easier for fit younger people. Obviously it requires the right preparation for cold weather, hot weather, rain, etc.

Like I said the guy next to me at work bikes in, in the middle of snow/ice storms etc. Sure there are colder parts of the continental US. And I don't choose to bike to work in the winter here. But I think you are fundamentally not thinking things through.

The tax credit encourages behavior that is benefits everyone. So someone in rural Maine doesn't have as much chance to bike in as someone in Florida... so the fuck what? They both benefit from reduction in driving and it isn't like you will have zero takers in new England and 90% adoption in Virginia.
If anything it benefits younger people at the expense of older people who can't bike in for physical reasons.

Like ALL tax credits their will be somewhat unequal distribution based on a variety of criteria including location. But that isn't really important. We all benefit from paying to convince people not to drive as much. Just like we all benefit from national parks we may not be as likely to visit as those close by.

[taterguy]

17. Who said anything about NC?

[Realityhack]

20. Your location. Thought you where referring to yourself as you do downthread. n/t

[taterguy]

22. What the fuck does "Thought you where referring" mean?

I know it's Friday but how many drinks have you had?

[Realityhack]

26. It means...

that I thought you were referring to yourself when you were talking about frostbite... the same as you did downthread regarding use of wood to heat your home.

[taterguy]

31. If you meant to say "were" why did you say "where"?

Are you just trying to fuck with me?

[Realityhack]

33. I messed up.

I could blame my dislexia but the truth is I fucked up. Sorry.

[taterguy]

39. Well since I've fucked up many times I'll forgive you

:toast:

[timtom]

60. Delete

[taterguy]

61. I hate it when people delete before I see what they wrote

[JackRiddler]

76. delete

[taterguy]

86. DTM

[wolfgangmo]

87. News flash. Tater loses his mind.

You said among other things, to name one place where a camelback wouldn't take care of heat stroke. OK. Death Valley. How about Nogales?

As for frost bite, I live in Minnesota, yes the coldest state in America , and there are lots of people here who bike year round. But they dress appropriately.

You are complaining about nothing. Find something more important to rail against.

[taterguy]

88. It's not a news flash if people have known that for years

:eyes:

[fed_up_mother]

14. If I biked to work

here in the south I'd have to shower once I got to work six months of the year. UGH

[taterguy]

16. Holy hyperbole

I know people who bike to work in the South who barely break a sweat; except for a couple weeks in August.

Then they just bring a spare shirt and they're good to go.

[Realityhack]

21. So those who sweat more are being discriminated against? n/t

[taterguy]

23. People who make up stuff to win "points" on the Internet bug me

[Realityhack]

30. Congratulations?

My point was and still is that I don't think region has as much to do with who will get this tax credit as you think it does and I disagree with the premise that it is fundamentally unfair to offer a tax credit that disproportionately benefits one region over another given that it does help all.

[fed_up_mother]

68. On the Gulf Coast?

You can cut the humidity with a knife in Houston.

The heat and humidity are awful May through September. Ok, that's five months. :)

[taterguy]

77. You're in Texas. You wouldn't smell as bad as people that ride horses to work

Or does that only happen in the movies?

[fed_up_mother]

78. LOL Not a horse in sight, I'm afraid.

[Kalyke]

70. And I know thin people, like me, who live in Tennessee, who

break a sweat six months out of the year by WALKING OUTSIDE.

I'm not sure of the point of this thread.

[taterguy]

75. The point of this thread is to make fun of people who sweat a lot

Or it could be to call attention to a spiffy new law.

:shrug:

[MajorChode]

25. Many people don't

When I used to bike commute, I was fortunate enough to have shower facilities at work. However I know many people that don't and they still manage to commute in all kinds of weather.

It takes about 12 hrs or more for the bacteria on your body to start generating funk after they feed on the oils in sweat. So as long as you are clean prior to taking your bike ride, a change of clothes is all you really need.

[taterguy]

37. Did you know that the person who wrote "Give Up the Funk" is from Kannapolis NC?

Thanks for reminding me that it's been too long since I listened to Parliament.

[ljm2002]

2. Summers here are pretty harsh...

...about the time you would be having wonderful bike-riding weather, we'd be courting heat stroke. I'm talking temperatures that are routinely 110+ for weeks at a time...

Anyway, anything that is done to encourage more Green alternatives, is a plus in my book. It stands to reason that it won't be 100% even in how it plays out; but hopefully if there are enough green initiatives, they'll even out regionally as a whole.

[Sanctified]

4. Well it depends on how serious you are about the environment.

The weather here in Oregon sucks in the winter but people still ride their bikes to work everyday.

[taterguy]

5. So people who don't bike to work just aren't serious about the environment?

Is that what you're trying to say?

[Sanctified]

8. No they can still be serious, they are just not dedicated.

Here in Oregon there are a lot of people who ride their bikes to work everyday, it's their only mode of transportation and if there is too much snow they walk to a bus stop and ride a bus. I personally drive because well I am not dedicated.

[Spider Jerusalem]

57. That would depend

do they use public transit? If not, what kind of car do they have? Do they carpool? If you're driving something that gets 10-20 miles per gallon, then no, you aren't serious about the environment.

[MajorChode]

6. Some hard core bike commuters do it in all sorts of weather

I've seen some commute in arctic weather. Back when I used to bike commute on a regular basis, I did it on 100+ degree days with no ill effects. I did it all winter long, but it never got all that cold here.

If you are determined enough, you can make it happen in just about any weather. The worst for me was wet or ice. Skinny tires and slick pavement just don't go well together.

[surrealAmerican]

54. That may not be such a good thing.

Just this morning I saw a bicycle commuter slide right into rush-hour traffic (the snowplow had not got to that street yet). Luckily she picked herself up and got back to the side of the road, but it's just not safe for most bicyclists out there.

[Not Me]

7. If we ride to work it leaves more oil for you to heat your home

just sayin.

[taterguy]

13. Not very helpful to those of us that heat with wood stoves

Just sayin.

[lurky]

9. I see plenty of people on the bridge riding into Manhattan,

even in January. Doesn't look like fun, but I'd rather ride in NYC in January than Houston in July.

[Realityhack]

11. South of Boston. Guy next to me bikes in every day.

And I would get heat stroke biking at all in many parts of the country.

The fact is most people won't bike in anywhere at any time. Encouraging them to do so when they can is worth the cost to society.

[anigbrowl]

18. Slow news day, huh.

:eyes:

[taterguy]

19. Just something that's troubling me

[deaniac21]

24. You should be taxed for being so dumb.

:hug:

[MajorChode]

27. A stupid tax would adversly affect those in the south

[JackRiddler]

67. Judging from this post, it would hit a lot of Northerners HARD.

[taterguy]

28. A tax on stupidity sure would drain the treasury of the South

[deaniac21]

58. I would certainly drain your bank account! You might not be

able to afford those cute little bike panties!

[taterguy]

59. Seriously, I don't own any bike panties

I have some padded underwear but it's not cute and I only use it if I'm going on a very long distance ride.

For commuting to work I just wear whatever pants I'd wear if I was driving.

[ZombieHorde]

29. Don't we all benefit from people choosing to ride a bike over driving a car?

[taterguy]

32. How so?

[ZombieHorde]

34. Less polution.

[taterguy]

36. So are people who drive excessive polluters?

[ZombieHorde]

41. I don't know, but generally speaking, bike riding is better for the enviroment than car driving.

I am sure that there are a few rare exceptions.

[Realityhack]

35. Reduced pollution?

reduced greenhouse gas emmisions?
reduction in overall national dependence on foreign oil?

Obviously it will be a small impact but the cost will also be small.

You could also look at reduced congestion increasing overall productivity (speed of moving good in and out of cities increased etc.) and reducing road wear (and therefore maintenance costs). Again minor compared to things like improving mass transit but suspect the cost is also lower.

[taterguy]

38. It all that's true why do people drive so much?

Surely we can't be that short-sighted and selfish can we?

[Realityhack]

40. Um... your not serious are you? n/t

[taterguy]

42. Seriously, I've like to know why an action with so many negative consequences is so prevalent

[Realityhack]

47. You named the primary reasons yourself.

We are short sited and lazy.

You might as well ask why people voted for McCain. There are lots of reasons but we use cars more than we should because we are short sited and lazy (including self on both counts).

[taterguy]

51. Not many people on this site voted for McCain

But I'm pretty sure that a lot of people on this site drive on a regular basis.

[Realityhack]

52. true. But we may have a higher than average bike/walk/pub. transit population too.

My point is that there are many reasons that you can get into but in general it comes down to an overall societal way of doing things. And that we are short sited and lazy.

[gratuitous]

43. I bike to work quite regularly

And I live north of the 45th parallel. Granted, it's not freezing cold here very much or very often, but then again, it's not freezing cold in just about any part of the lower 48 for at least nine months out of the year.

So, what are the particulars of the Bicycle Commuter Act? I mean, I already save big bucks by not driving, not paying for parking, and not going to the doctor so often because I'm healthier, but is there some kind of tax break I could be getting, too?

[taterguy]

44. Apparently your employer can reimburse you for bike expenses and take it off their tax bill

Check with your HR Department or your accountant if you're self-employed.

I'd post a link but I'm lazy. I saw a blurb about in a magazine.

[gratuitous]

45. Ah well, I won't be greedy

Losing 30 pounds last year and not contributing to greenhouse gases is sufficient reward for now.

[taterguy]

46. Might not hurt to ask depending on where you work

Take the money and spend it on music, books or art.

The creators would probably appreciate it.

[Realityhack]

48. I should suggest it at work. May get more people to bike in. n/t

[taterguy]

53. That's simultaneously encouraging and depressing

I like to think that people are basically decent and doing all they can to preserve this Earth that I happen to like a lot. I accept that some people have no viable choice other than to use a car for their transportation.

But how many people are just whores, and need an offer of cash before they'll do the right thing?

It would be good for the environment if a simple offer of cash coaxed people out of their cars but bad for my perception of the nature of people.

(And yes, I'm posting while drinking, in case you couldn't tell)

[PVnRT]

49. Wait

You take people to task for driving to work when they have excuses...and now you're making excuses for not riding your bike?

[taterguy]

50. My position has evolved

[Spider Jerusalem]

55. Greenhouse gas emissions?

Carbon footprint?

Responsible energy use? Green economy?

Not driving to work is the best thing to do if possible; cycling or using public transport where available are far more responsible and ultimately better for the environment (and it will take incentives like this to get people to change their habits).

[annabanana]

56. No skin off MY frostbit nose...

Spread it around baby.... We'll get ours back another time...

[Retired AF Dem]

62. Why would you bike to work in the south

You really want to share the road with monster pickup NASCAR wannabee drivers? My manager is currently recovering from head injuries and a broken leg from being hit on his motorcycle, my assistant manager was hit six months ago. There is no damn way I would ride a bike in the south during rush hour.

on edit
Hell with the south. Since people are to stupid to be driving at all I would not ride a bicycle anywhere in this country. My life is to important to give it up to save some carbon credits or taxes.

[taterguy]

63. Because I happen to like this thing called Earth

And rednecks won't intentionally hit you since the last thing they want to do is scratch their paint job and/or have to have a conversation with a cop.

[Retired AF Dem]

64. Hard to enjoy the earth

if you are dead. I spent twenty years in Europe. I biked everywhere. I will not ride a bike in this county. Half of the drivers in the USA has their head up their asses.

[taterguy]

69. If cycling in the US was deadly I wouldn't be making this post

Unless I was dead.

Scary.

[madmom]

73. On the flip side, we have 2 cyclists in this area who refuse to share the road. They

go right down the middle of a secondary road not far from a school so when there is congestion from this along with the buses they do nothing but cause problems. I swear I think the female is wanting someone to hide her so she can sue. At times she even rides the wrong way in the middles of a lane coming at you, staring you down and will not stop or go around or move over to the lane she is supposed to be in. I have had to stop or go around her many times, which means I have to go out of my lane , if there is on coming traffic, another tie up. Another problem around here is they do not obey traffic signals, they ride right through stop signs and lights. My daughter got a "warning" for jay walking on a street with no side walks, so why this people are allowed to get away with this I have no idea.

[ret5hd]

74. How do the people of Copenhagen do it?

[taterguy]

82. Copenhagen's in southern Denmark

[ret5hd]

85. Uhhh,,,yeah. You are right. I believe it gets REALLY cold there too.

My question stands.

[MH1]

65. Oh, get real.

Or add the sarcasm tag you apparently forgot.

It's been pretty cold here in PA and I still see PLENTY of people riding bikes, particularly downtown. I guess some people either don't have a choice or are just smart enough to figure how to stay warm enough.

[JackRiddler]

66. More people bike to work in New York City than in the South...

The best bike cities in the world are Northern European.

Of all the unfounded concerns, this one takes the cake.

OIL SUBSIDIES and MILITARY SPENDING are, in large part, income redistribution for the South.

Solar subsidies may do a bit of that too, but at least aren't destroying the world.

[Realityhack]

72. Well put. n/t

[lumberjack_jeff]

71. Does stupid come from winning elections?

Tax policy isn't a competition over who gets the bigger piece of pie. It is supposed to promote a healthy society. I live 10 miles up a road (which is primarily used by log trucks) from the nearest little town where it rains 60" per year. Nevertheless, I recognize that promoting bike ridership has significant social and health benefit for those for whom it is an option.

Same with tax breaks for families with kids. Families who provide adequately for their kids are more likely to raise independent, productive and law-abiding grownups. It's in everyone's interest to not be mugged by an ignorant and maladapted young adult.

[taterguy]

80. I'm pretty sure that I was just as stupid before November

But I could be wrong

[lumberjack_jeff]

81. LOL, okay that was pretty funny.

:thumbsup:

[Lagomorph]

79. I say, let them....

If they can bike to work, encourage them to do so.

We'll see some injuries and arthritis down the road, but nothing extrodinary. A national network of bike paths would be pretty sweet.

[Occam Bandage]

83. I'd wager you that more people bike to work in NYC and Chicago alone than in the Confederacy.

[taterguy]

84. Ever try to park a car in NYC or Chicago?

No wonder bikes are popular in those places