Bicycle license

[Chief_USA]

:banghead:I guess it is time to let some people hit the Caps Lock button, since I will be stepping on some toes.

I think it is time for the legislature to give auto operators a little slack, and start requiring licenses on roadable bicycles. The bicyclists need to start paying their fair share of building wide shoulders and bicycle lanes on state roads. I have no objections to folks riding multi speed bicycles, however I must pay a road and bridge tax for the privilege of operating my autos, also a gasoline tax to for road and bridge construction. The legislature is trying to determine how to tax operators of Hybrid and electric vehicles for the gasoline taxes they don't pay. I see no reason bicyclists should be exempt, they have the means to pay, since many of the bicycle cost as much as a small car.

[kb5ykj]

Chief I tend to agree with you and we will both step on toes I guess.
I have worked several Bicycle races doing communications for them and the riders get upset with cars and trucks on the roads not being polite. They don't seem to remember who is paying for the roads they are riding on. I have had several say that "We have the right to be use the roads because they pay taxes too." I have had several that say they pay taxes for their autos for the roads and I have pointed out there are no licenses on their bikes that say they have paid anything to be there. They don't follow the traffic laws either although I seem to remember that the law says they are supposed to just like everybody else. Maybe the time has come for this to be enacted.
IMHO

[Brian]

How we going to tax the joggers that run on the roads too? The city builds sidewalks, so let us tax the walkers. Just think of all the extra tax payer money that we have to have for the police to go around and enforce checking to see if my 8 year old has a license to ride in the street. Sorry I can see your point, but just seems silly to me.

[Caretaker]

:banghead:I guess it is time to let some people hit the Caps Lock button, since I will be stepping on some toes.

I think it is time for the legislature to give auto operators a little slack, and start requiring licenses on roadable bicycles. The bicyclists need to start paying their fair share of building wide shoulders and bicycle lanes on state roads. I have no objections to folks riding multi speed bicycles, however I must pay a road and bridge tax for the privilege of operating my autos, also a gasoline tax to for road and bridge construction. The legislature is trying to determine how to tax operators of Hybrid and electric vehicles for the gasoline taxes they don't pay. I see no reason bicyclists should be exempt, they have the means to pay, since many of the bicycle cost as much as a small car.


Heres a far better soultion. Get rid of all the autos,bikes,golf carts etc. make everyone walk.The exercise would do them good.It would also insure the RIGHT To Free Travel.That is unless the TAX happy crowd finds a way to tax walking too.

[Feline]

So by cycling I:
- Reduce traffic congestion
- Reduce air pollution
- Reduce wear and tear on the roads
- Better my health and reduce the burden on the health care network

and for this I should be taxed more?!?!
By this logic we should be paying juveniles to smoke cigarettes!

[Caretaker]

Chief I tend to agree with you and we will both step on toes I guess.
I have worked several Bicycle races doing communications for them and the riders get upset with cars and trucks on the roads not being polite. They don't seem to remember who is paying for the roads they are riding on. I have had several say that "We have the right to be use the roads because they pay taxes too." I have had several that say they pay taxes for their autos for the roads and I have pointed out there are no licenses on their bikes that say they have paid anything to be there. They don't follow the traffic laws either although I seem to remember that the law says they are supposed to just like everybody else. Maybe the time has come for this to be enacted.
IMHO

Most cyclists have cars too.:eek: They already paid to use those roads.:confused:And Its bad enough to be taxed (YEARLY at that)for each ride you own(or think you own) and worse when you only use ONE at a time & Some folks very seldom GO anywhere.. We already have DOUBLE TAXATION or more.. Also would you suggest cyclists be treated as Commercial Drivers like daily auto operators are?.And why should cyclists have to license a bike(i mean grant/sign over to the state ownership of their Property)like the auto owners are tricked into doing. Whats next having TSA stop bikes to grope speedo wearers.Or maybe make cyclists get a Toll tag..
No this is NOT the time for this to be enacted. NOT EVER:mad:

[Caretaker]

:banghead:I guess it is time to let some people hit the Caps Lock button, since I will be stepping on some toes.

I think it is time for the legislature to give auto operators a little slack, and start requiring licenses on roadable bicycles. The bicyclists need to start paying their fair share of building wide shoulders and bicycle lanes on state roads. I have no objections to folks riding multi speed bicycles, however I must pay a road and bridge tax for the privilege of operating my autos, also a gasoline tax to for road and bridge construction. The legislature is trying to determine how to tax operators of Hybrid and electric vehicles for the gasoline taxes they don't pay. I see no reason bicyclists should be exempt, they have the means to pay, since many of the bicycle cost as much as a small car.


Whats next Chief. having the old folks license their Wheelchairs.And dont forget the Segways. Good grief.

[Shire_Driver]

I would like to comment on bicyclist using the roads, highways, etc. & the fact of it being an extremely dangerous "activity" & I don't feel it is a good idea for them to be riding on roads built specifically for motor vehicle use. I don't appreciate a bicyclist (or multiple bicyclists) traveling down 1431 East when I'm pulling my 24ft long 8ft wide gooseneck (or even when I'm not pulling a trailer) It is an extremely dangerous situation on that road, I hope and pray I never have an accident because of a bicyclist and then have to live the rest of my life knowing I injured someone or even killed them because they just wanted to ride down that "scenic" road.
Roads were not built for the bicycles, or for wheelchairs, horses, segways, etc. They were built for motor vehicles. I'm not trying to be ugly or rude or anything like that...I just get very irritated when I encounter a bicyclist on a road that clearly was not built for that sport.

More power to those of you who love bike riding (I did too when I was a kid) but I never rode on major roads---just subdivision roads, places you would expect to see bicycles.
Reducing wear and tear on the roads?? Once again, the roads that were built specifically for Motor Vehicles. Wear and tear is expected (therefore you have taxes?)
Reduce traffic congestion? I don't know about that---accidents because of a bicycle. Yes I realize there are single vehicle accidents and multiple vehicle accidents, but I have had a near miss with a bicyclist on Soutwest Parkway---I could NOT see them when I was coming around a curve and there are those overgrown trees and underbrush and BOOM!!! There's a bicyclist!!! Both of our lives could have changed forever in a very bad way. Thankfully I was able to swerve and thankfully there was no one in the next lane because hammering brakes may not have been enough!
Better your health and reduce burden on health care network? Maybe....but not necessarily so when you may cause an accident.
Anyway, just something to think about....

[mrdonkhan]

(If you drive a car ), I’ll tax the street,
(If you try to sit ), I’ll tax your seat,
(If you get too cold ), I’ll tax the heat,
(If you take a walk ), I’ll tax your feet.
- George Harrison

[Shire_Driver]

(If you drive a car ), I’ll tax the street,
(If you try to sit ), I’ll tax your seat,
(If you get too cold ), I’ll tax the heat,
(If you take a walk ), I’ll tax your feet.
- George Harrison

LOL!!! :rolleyes: That's exactly right! :D

[grumpy]

Caretaker, by your logic, if a person lives alone but owns two cars, then only one car should be taxed. (You can only drive one at a time)

[Nomos]

For every mile I cycle I should get a refund on road-related taxes because I've paid them through various means but on the bike I'm giving back my usage to someone else. Oh, and the guy with the 24 foot trailer needs to be taxed more, especially if he is loaded heavily.

Come 'on folks -- you're trying to control behavior through taxation and THAT is why our tax code is in such a mess now!

[Caretaker]

Caretaker, by your logic, if a person lives alone but owns two cars, then only one car should be taxed. (You can only drive one at a time)

Thats right. Say that single person has 3 or more.Why should each car have to be taxed(and Yearly at that)if they dont drive but one at a time. And out of those cars one or two only see the street once or twice a year..And why should people have to ReRegister them each and every year? Where is the logic in that other then to fill up the states coffers..Think about.If you Own property they have a Road/bridge tax right?.You paid into to the road funds...Thats Double taxation right there.

[Shire_Driver]

For every mile I cycle I should get a refund on road-related taxes because I've paid them through various means but on the bike I'm giving back my usage to someone else. Oh, and the guy with the 24 foot trailer needs to be taxed more, especially if he is loaded heavily.

Come 'on folks -- you're trying to control behavior through taxation and THAT is why our tax code is in such a mess now!

Wow--Thanks for the comment on the 24' trailer and being taxed MORE!! I didn't say ANYTHING about the taxing---I was commenting on the danger of bicycles using roads built specifically for the use of motor vehicles. Oh, and by the way...I'm not a guy.
My 24' trailer is a horse trailer---maybe if I have an extra fat horse I should be taxed extra for that?? Did I say anything ugly to you? There isn't any reason for that.
Also, I have a 1 ton truck & I AM taxed extra for that & I am also taxed more for the bigger trailer & I'm not complaining about that.
If you want to cycle--take yourself into Austin--they'll cater to you.

[mrdonkhan]

Some of you guys need to run for elected offices. You have great ideas to tax people to make yourselfs "Right" and us poorer....oh wait some of you are the ones that want limited government...I'm confused

We pay enough taxes with gas and registration. I own a truck so if I drive 100 miles and a owner of a Prius drives 100 miles, I'll pay more in taxes as I'm using more gas. Shire Driver does not need to pay more taxes as she already is paying more. She uses more gas and her trailer costs money to register.

The money collected from the gas tax and registration pays for the roads. So Shire Driver and my self pay more than the average person.

I know that the original comment was about cyclist. I wish they would just ride on roads with wide shoulders but if they don't, I am extra careful around them. Most of the cyclist I encounter do follow the rules of the road and I don't think much about it. The ones that do not I don't forget easily. Lets not group all cyclist as bad because of a few.

Let's be the bigger person and share the road and not drive with so much anger.

[Nomos]

I know that the original comment was about cyclist. I wish they would just ride on roads with wide shoulders but if they don't, I am extra careful around them. Most of the cyclist I encounter do follow the rules of the road and I don't think much about it. The ones that do not I don't forget easily. Lets not group all cyclist as bad because of a few.

Let's be the bigger person and share the road and not drive with so much anger.

Good idea, and I apologize for getting snippy in my prior posting. I too find most cyclists will single up and do their best to allow a vehicle to pass. It is actually legal for cyclists to ride two abreast so long as it does not unnecessarily impede traffic. Most do the courteous thing and single up.

As far as riding roads with wide shoulders, that's the problem. Many roads are woefully inadequate in that regard. Many cyclists ride 20-80 miles in a session and there is no route in central Texas where that can be done all on wide shoulders. Wish it were so.

If one is trying to cycle for transportation, again there are few routes entirely on wide shoulders out in the country, and no known bike lanes in the smaller towns.