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Wednesday, July 19, 2017

First statewide bicycle tax in nation leaves bike-crazy Oregon riders deflated

In Oregon, a state known for its avid bicycling culture, the state Legislature’s approval of the first statewide bike tax in the nation has fallen flat with riders.

Democratic Gov. Kate Brown is expected to sign the sweeping $5.3 billion transportation package, which includes a $15 excise tax on the sale of bicycles costing more than $200 with a wheel diameter of at least 26 inches.

Even though the funding has been earmarked for improvements that will benefit cyclists, the tax has managed to irk both anti-tax Republicans and environmentally conscious bikers.

BikePortland publisher Jonathan Maus called it “an unprecedented step in the wrong direction.”

“We are taxing the healthiest, most inexpensive, most environmentally friendly, most efficient and most economically sustainable form of transportation ever devised by the human species,” Mr. Maus said.

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11 comments:

Anonymous said...

Don't let the boy mayor see this, he will put this into law then put a bike lane circling the middle of the new roundabout downtown at taxpayers expense!!

Anonymous said...

We contend that for a nation to try to. tax itself into prosperity is like a man standing in a bucket and trying to lift himself up by the handle. Winston Churchill


In liberal logic, if life is unfair then the answer is to turn more tax money over to politicians, to spend in ways that will increase their chances of getting reelected. Thomas Showell

The hardest thing to understand in the world is the income tax. Albert Einstein

Anonymous said...

Why not they tax everything else as much as they want. They use the roads then they should have to be registered yearly, tagged for street use and get a license certifying they know the laws for their class. They did it to mopeds / scooters. They obey no laws such as running stop signs / lights, serve all over the lanes, they use no turn hand signs etc. What is the difference?

Anonymous said...

Leave it to the dumborats. If it moves, or can be defined, they will tax it.
The tax money make the dumbocrats bosses rich and does little or nothing for you and me.

Anonymous said...

Totally agree with7:32

Anonymous said...

They hate it when you call them out on not obeying the rules of the road.

Anonymous said...

Lol
Liberal a holes.

Anonymous said...

Libs taxing there own snowflakes lol.

Anonymous said...

F them.

Anonymous said...

HA HA!!!

Anonymous said...

Socialism eats itself, it is a mental disease.