Bike-To-Work Week
by Warren McLaren, Sydney on 05.17.06
This week is U.S. Bike-To-Work Week, culminating in Bike to Work Day on Friday 19 May 06. The League of American Bicyclists offer a few reasons why cycle commuting is a good idea. They suggest that three hours of riding per week can cut the risk of heart disease and stoke by half. That to maintain a car for a year is more than $3,000 dollars, compared to less than $300 for a bike. And our use of motorised vehicles contributes to 70% of all carbon monoxide emissions, 45% of nitrogen oxide and 34% of hydrocarbons. The League have an online list of the major events taking place by state. According to one news article, less than 1% of U.S. workers regularly cycle to work. But a federal transportation bill is apparently set to double funds available for both pedestrian and bike facilities to $4 billion USD. And it looks like a tax incentive might be on the way to reward those who ride to work. ::Bike-To-Work Week, via San Francisco Gate.
Warren,
Where did you see the mention of a 'tax incentive'?
Also, many cities are holding events. Chicago Bike Federation has some lined up:
http://www.biketraffic.org/content.php?id=44_0_8_0
And so does the city:
http://www.cityofchicago.org/city/webportal/portalDeptCategoryAction.do?BV_SessionID=@@@@0454993130.1147881977@@@@&BV_EngineID=ccccaddhkflkklgcefecelldffhdfgm.0&deptCategoryOID=-536895733&contentType=COC_EDITORIAL&topChannelName=SubAgency&entityName=Bike+Chicago&deptMainCategoryOID=-536895733
At base of SFGate piece. It reads:
Federal legislation introduced in the Senate last month would offer employers a tax incentive to help cover the cost of riding to work.
"This is a fair and modest proposal that will reward employees who ride their bikes to and from their jobs," said Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., one of the bill's sponsors. "They are saving energy and overcoming their dependence on oil and gas."
Thanks, Warren.
Appears this proposal was already presented to the Senate this spring.
Here is the full proposal:
http://bikesbelong.org/page.cfm?PageID=323
I love the bit about cyclists needing financial help because we are commuting by bike at our own expense. "Oh, the fuel and insurance costs are killing me!" [wink].
Yeah, how 'bout giving me back all those taxes I've paid to subsidize cheap gas!
Silly me, I've been walking to work all week!
Get with the program, Icelander!
Walking is so inefficient, you'd get a much better mpc (mile per calorie) on a bike ;)
If you're interested in setting up your own bike to work event, there is an interactive map and forum at biketoworkweek.org.