BIKE: chronicle alert

[Dave Sullivan]

Many readers will automatically recognize the errors in Mr. Beitman's 
letter.  First, most bike commuters are also licensed motorists and motor 
vehicle owners who pay vehicle registration and automobile insurance, 
despite driving less than the average person, thus paying more of these 
fixed costs per mile driven.  Also, we pay a small monthly fee on our city 
utility bill for road maintenance.  Most importantly, we pay sales tax on 
consumer goods and property tax directly as homeowners or indirectly as 
renters.  This money goes into the City's and County's General Funds to be 
used for Public Works and Transportation Dept. expenses for routine 
on-going road&bridge maintenance, and to pay back debt authorized in the 
1997 County bond election ($36M) and the 1998 and 2000 City bond elections 
($152M and $150M, resp.) for capital improvements like new roads, road 
reconstruction, and traffic signal synchronization.  A small amount of the 
City's bonds were dedicated to bike and pedestrian projects; however, 
motorists benefit from reduced congestion when others elect to bike or walk 
on dedicated facilities, whereas cyclists and pedestrians continue to 
suffer from the noise, pollution, inconvenience, and life-threatening 
danger created by motorists.  The bottom line is that motorists and 
cyclists and walkers do pay for roads, bike lanes, sidewalks, and 
trails.  It is true that cyclists and walkers are paying less for gasoline 
sales tax to fund their mobility, but nearly all of that money all goes to 
highways, which cyclists and pedestrians (sane ones, anyway) do not 
use.  Lest I fail to mention it, we also pay personal income tax to finance 
military protection for oil production and shipping and for environmental 
clean-up along with everyone else.

Dave Sullivan
CoA Planning Commissioner and Bond Oversight Committee Member

At 08:56 AM 10/6/2004, you wrote:
>The following letter is appearing in online postmarks; will probably be 
>printed. I can't respond, since I already have a letter going in this week 
>(not sure about print edition).
>
>If anybody responds, I'd encourage you to keep it grounded in reality - 
>talk about the fact that most roads (and all roads around here that get 
>bike lanes) are paid for out of property and sales taxes, not gas taxes.
>
>here's the letter:
>
>Dear Editor,
>I'm so tired of all the bitching and moaning by the bicyclists in this 
>town wanting bike lanes and car-free areas. My response ­ when bicyclists 
>start /paying/ a road-use tax, as auto drivers do. When bicyclists are 
>required to have a license to operate their vehicle (meaning you have 
>knowledge of road use, i.e., you sit in line at a traffic light like 
>everyone else ). Then, maybe, bike lanes would be more acceptable to 
>others. Until the time comes when bicyclists pay for the use of the roads, 
>go cry elsewhere for your bike lanes.
>
>- James Beitman
>
>
>and here's the link:
>
>http://www.austinchronicle.com/gbase/Community/Postmarks
>
>
>
>
>
>(respond after thursday if it shows up in print, I'd suggest)
>
>
>- MD
>
>_______________________________________________
>Get on or off this list here:  http://BicycleAustin.info/list