This story out of Associated Press this morning caught my attention.
A bill that would require Oregon cyclists to pay a $54 registration fee every two years is unlikely to even get a hearing in the House Transportation Committee. That's what Democratic Representative Terry Beyer of Springfield, who chairs the panel, says. The proposed fee, which is only a buck cheaper than registering a car, has outraged cyclists. Beyer guesses most people who've given up their car to commute by bike have already paid registration and title fees for a car. She says the cost of implementing a new registration system might exceed the generated revenue. Republican Representative Wayne Krieger of Gold Beach has introduced the bill. It is meant to help pay for transportation projects as well as a state registry of bikes and their owners.(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
Beyer guesses most people who've given up their car to commute by bike have already paid registration and title fees for a car.
ReplyDeleteSo what?
Is Beyer saying that you should only have to pay ONE registration/title fee?
If that's the case, I'm sure Beyer will support legislation to remedy the inequality of forcing people to pay a registration/title fee on every vehicle they own ... in favor of paying a "per driver" fee.
After all, each driver can only use one vehicle at a time. So if the cyclists don't have to pay for multiple vehicles, why should anyone else?