135. Taxes

Breaking News: Washington State Legislature proposes Bike Tax:

http://streetsblog.net/2013/02/21/washington-state-considering-a-symbolic-tax-on-bicycles/

So, a symbolic tax to assuage the feelings of motorists angry at red light-running cyclists?  Sorry, these aggressive motorists will hardly change attitudes based on a $25 tax.

Then a symbolic tax so that all users pay for road maintenance?  Then why not an excise tax on shoes for all those pedestrians whose habits require lights and paint and traffic cops?

yes, this is my route and could be my bike--if it were black

We pay sales taxes on bikes and equipment repairs.  Most of us own cars and may gas taxes.

I don't go along with the worst case scenario which would have fewer people buying bikes because of this tax.

And since yearly auto excise taxes (0.3%, or $6.00 for my back-up Volvo 740) support local transit, I can't complain about cyclists also supporting public transit. So a one-time $25 tax on new bikes?  Sure, why not.