Thomas Hoffman

How about a pound for pound car vs bike equity.

My quick math says the proposed fee equals $1.50 per pound for a nice road
bike per.

So at estimated weight of 3500 pounds for an average sedan, the price per
car would be $5250 per year.

I think that would more than make up for any budget short falls in the roads
department.

From: obra-bounces@list.obra.org [mailto:obra-bounces@list.obra.org] On
Behalf Of Long, Steve
Sent: Tuesday, March 10, 2009 1:39 PM
To: obra@list.obra.org
Subject: [OBRA Chat] FW: HB 3008

Comments that I sent to State Rep Schaufler.

_____

From: Long, Steve
Sent: Tuesday, March 10, 2009 1:36 PM
To: 'rep.mikeschaufler@state.or.us'
Subject: HB 3008

Mr. Schaufler,

many of us in the cycling community are stunned that you would be a
co-sponsor of this bill. We believe it is a misguided and bad piece of
legislation. I read your comment about it being your goal to get everyone
that shares the road to help bare the costs to maintain it.

I ride a bike, I drive a car, I own a home and I pay the same taxes that you
do. My bike has a negligible effect on any road surface that I ride on. Why
on God's green Earth should I be double taxed to help pay for roads? Since I
buy gas, have to pay to register my car and have to pay taxes on my home
your bill would be double taxing me.

Additionally, what about all the children that ride bicycles? Should those
kids have to pay taxes too? How about their parents being double taxed?
Should that happen?

Also, bike lanes, those that we do have, are largely funded by Federal
dollars. Bicycles are good for our economy. If you want bicycled to help pay
for the negligible effects that they have on roads, put a tiny little exise
tax on bicycle tires.

Steve Long
Milwaukie, OR