Posted on 05/21/2015 1:05:24 AM PDT by Cincinatus' Wife
"I think the reason these anti-bike policies are being proposed is its a red-meat issue for a lot of Republicans," Bike Fed executive director Dave Cieslewicz told Madison.com. "They have stereotypes about what cyclists are and they dont see them as their voters. They see attacks on cycling as politically beneficial."
WATERLOO, Wis. (BRAIN) Trek Bicycle's president, John Burke, is urging Wisconsin cyclists to contact their state lawmakers in support of the state's Complete Streets Law, which Gov. Scott Walker has proposed eliminating. Burke, in an email sent this week, also urged them to oppose a $25 state bicycle sales tax proposed by a state representative.
The Complete Streets Law requires that when a road is built, designers must take into account the needs of cyclists and pedestrians.
Walker, who is expected to seek the 2016 GOP presidential nomination, has said eliminating the Complete Street Law, first enacted in 2010, would save $7.4 million in the state's next two-year budget period.
Burke said, "This important law has created more paved shoulders, bike lanes, and fewer dangerous intersections for both cyclists and pedestrians throughout the state."
Burke's sister, former Trek executive Mary Burke, ran against Walker for the governor's office last year.
In announcing its annual Bike Friendly States rankings earlier this month, the League of American Bicyclists cited Walker's proposed cuts as contributing to the state's ranking, which fell from third in 2014 to ninth in 2015.
"Gov. Walker has proposed a repeal of the Wisconsin Complete Streets law, cuts to state funding for bicycling and walking, and the elimination of the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program, which often provides matching funds for trail projects. If these changes come to pass, bicycling in Wisconsin will be set back significantly and it may be years to recover the state support for bicycling that has led to Wisconsin's history of being one of the most Bicycle Friendly States in America," the League said.
In his email, Burke said he learned of a proposed bike tax just this week.
"We cannot sit on the sidelines at a time when the bicycle is becoming an ever more important solution to this country's health, congestion, and environmental issues. Now is not the time to tax products that improve health, reduce congestion, and create a better environment," he wrote.
Burke asked recipients to email their state senator and representative to urge them to restore Complete Streets and $2 million in Transportation Alternatives Funding and to oppose the $25 bike tax.
"Taxes on other industries are being cut. This is no time to single out the bike industry for a tax increase. The bicycle industry produces over $1.5 billion in economic activity and supports over 14,000 jobs," he said.
Burke urged respondents to contact their lawmakers before Thursday.
The Joint Finance Committee made the bike tax proposal Tuesday, as an alternative for funding the Complete Streets program. The committee estimated a tax on bikes with 20-inch wheels or larger would raise $7.2 million over the next two-year budget period and $4.8 million a year thereafter, based on average annual sales figures extrapolated from an NBDA statistical report. Minus 3 percent for the state Department of Revenue, the proceeds would be deposited into the state transportation fund.
The Wisconsin Bike Federation strongly opposes the bike tax, the group said on its website. "While we dont oppose some sort of revenue stream to support improvements for bikeways, that revenue source would have to equitable, dedicated to projects that benefit cyclists, and efficient to collect. The legislature shouldnt be imposing a significant new tax without any study and without asking for feedback from the cycling public or the biking industry in our state."
A group spokesman noted that the Republican-controlled legislature has been eager to reduce taxes and fees on other industries, but seems to have singled out the bike industry for a new tax.
"I think the reason these anti-bike policies are being proposed is its a red-meat issue for a lot of Republicans," Bike Fed executive director Dave Cieslewicz told Madison.com. "They have stereotypes about what cyclists are and they dont see them as their voters. They see attacks on cycling as politically beneficial."
Would you care to explain the bicyclist behavior in these videos?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0oVaWQ09nRg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DuQByrRpbh8
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pqJrA_PisSI
I was a Trek fan, but when I found Trek is a liberal, I sold my Trek. I bought a made in the US Diamondback. I wont ever buy a Trek again.
That was when I sold my Trek...I’m glad they make bicycles in the US, but I don’t need to know their politics.
A bike tax... Children hardest hit...with that tax!!!!
As a bicyclist (we love biking), I have to say that some bike enthusiasts are rude. We were on a bike trail, so when my youngest son chain got dechained, I fixed it. While I was doing it, some bike enthusiast came biking by and told me to move over he would run over my boys next time.He was going in the opposite direction, so I was glad. This guy looked like something you see at the Tour de France, spandex bike outfit. We were in shorts and t shirts.
As a cyclist, I say that if they're going to implememt this then a tax is perfectly acceptable.
Right. It makes sense to build streets that accommodate everyone but ALL users should pay.
Around here bike paths are for horseback riders, joggers and skateboards. If we had to pay for the path, then it should only be for bikes, not anyone else. Just like Vermont’s snowmobile trails, it is just for snowmobilers, not cross country skiers.
In Austin, TX you see adults riding bikes in all their Spandex gear, rarely children. If you can afford the outfit and the bike, you can afford a $25 tax for using the bike lanes paid for by the taxpayers.
Pray America is waking
Like I said, there are a lot of cyclists that do not observe the laws of the road. They should be ticketed the same as if they were driving a car or riding a motorcycle. I don’t excuse them at all.
I ride rural roads with nothing but stop signs but yes, I stop at all stop signs, give handle signals, and use a headlight and taillight just like a when I’m driving a motorized vehicle. We are not all law breakers. IMO, most of the obnoxious jerks on bicycles ride in the city and commute to work and back. That has been my experience anyway.
I've seen bikers put drivers at risk on many occasions, and if they're going to use the same roads as drivers do, then they should share in the costs of upkeep and be required to follow rules and regulations on those roads - or else be fined and/or lose their license. One of my pet peeves is when bikers use two-lane roads and take up so much space on the right such that drivers can only pass them by going partially into the oncoming traffic lane. If they stayed closer to the shoulder this wouldn't be an issue.
Wait I’m confused. I thought all the granola munchers were in favor of higher taxes and sticking it to the man. Now they have their chance to pay their “fair share” and they whine? Seems Leftists are hypocrites. Who’da thunk it.
“Over half bike to work” in Copenhagen? Winter time too?
Yep, forget trek, Specialized for me.
Besides, what’s wrong with a user tax, like a bridge tax, bike path tax?
I might also mention that in some cities and towns, the turn lanes have under-road sensors. Bicycles aren’t heavy enough to trigger the sensor so an exception has been made to the law to allow a bicyclists to proceed through the light if it is red. Some laws specify that the cyclist must wait through one rotation of the light without getting the green, some say they must wait a certain length of time, and some allow them to treat a turn lane light like a stop sign. They are required to stop and look both ways before going through the light. In video #1 the cyclist did stop before finally going though the light. I can’t say what the law in that city is so I can’t say if he/she broke the law or not. Considering how well he/she was doing up until then I would consider that he/she made a legal turn.
> Do you use lane markings, road signage, and light-controlled intersections?
The lane markings are symbols painted on the shoulder of the road. The shoulder was already there but if it gets designated as a “bike lane” then money flows. It’s bs.
As for signage and lights, perhaps there should be a pedestrian tax.
Drivers pay taxes to maintain roads so why should cyclists get a free ride? Cycling is great, but how many ride during a Wisconsin winter?
It’s Dallas, and there is no such law in Texas. Motorcycles don’t always trip magnetic sensors either and that’s considered ‘too bad’ - so, nope, illegal here.
Then he was breaking the law. I don’t know what the law is in the city closest to me because I never ride in town. I ride in one city but only on the bike path and there are no lights to worry about. I try to stay off busy roads.
The law regarding turn lanes is confusing anyway because most of them are set by the city, not the state. Too much traffic makes me very nervous so I stick to country back roads and MUT’s (multi-use trails).
Regarding taxes for bicycles to use roads, if my county voted to do that I wouldn’t protest it as long as it was done correctly. Taxes like that should be done fairly depending on the weight of the vehicle using the road. Cars should pay less than large trucks, motorcycles less than cars, bicycles even less, etc. One thing that really annoys me living in the country are farm tractors running on the roads dumping diesel and oil all over the road while running on off-road fuel. They get a cut in price of the fuel and aren’t required to buy tags every year but are required by law to stay off-road. They don’t. They are all over the roads in my neighborhood. They dripped fuel and oil all over the roads making it very treacherous to drive.
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