If you have a residential utility account, you pay $4.97 a month for a “transportation user fee,” which helps fund road projects, among other transportation-related programs.

City Code allows for a waiver of this fee if you don’t own or regularly use a car. Is anyone out there who exclusively bicycles taking advantage of this waiver? I did once long ago…1995, when I believe it was something like $1.76 a month. Not a big savings, but I nevertheless like the idea of at least a tiny benefit for riding my bike.

What if bicyclists (even those that drive some) could elect to have their fee go exclusively to bicycle-related programs? If 10,000 people did so, it would be almost $50,000 a month, and half a million dollars a year. Not a lot in terms of transportation funding, but it would be enough to fund public education campaigns or minor infrastructure projects.

Code follows…

§ 14-10-14  EXEMPTIONS.

(A)     This chapter does not apply to the state, a county, an independent school district , or a public institution of higher education.

(B)     This chapter does not apply to a property that is vacant.  The director may adopt any reasonable method to determine whether a property is vacant.

(C)     This chapter does not apply to a property that is used only for off-street parking.

(D)     A user of a residential property may apply for and receive an exemption from this chapter if:

(1)     the user does not own or regularly use a private motor vehicle for transportation; or

(2)     the user is 65 years of age or older.

(E)     A user entitled to an exemption under this section must notify the director of the applicable exemption.  A fee paid before the director is notified of an exemption may not be refunded.

Source:  1992 Code Section 15-6-14; Ord. 031204-12; Ord. 031211-11; Ord. 040902-40.