DiabloScott

This is really interesting to me, mostly because it is such a huge change in the way a thing is done. Like when all those European countries changed to the Euro, or when Sweden switched from driving on the left to the right.

Anyway, the idea of a gas tax for road work made sense when gas use was proportional to road use, but now it's not. Implementation sounds like it's doable with a lot of work-arounds - especially between states.

Here's a link with a story

https://www.marketplace.org/2016/09/...stead-pay-mile


Of course, bikes should be exempt

alan s 

Why not the gas tax, tolls and a mileage fee all at the same time? More revenue for the states and Feds. More private toll lanes. More red light and speed cameras. More meters. Almost forgot about congestion fees.

Darth Lefty 

I don't think I buy the premise. The supposed slump seems to correspond to the recession. Here's government data on gasoline use. It peaked in 2007, bottomed in 2012, set a new record in 2016.

https://www.eia.gov/dnav/pet/hist/Le...s=MGFUPUS1&f=A

In order to tax bicycles you'd have to require sensors and registration. For something normally widely seen as a sidewalk toy. I'm sure that the majority of cyclists don't come in for resentment either... just the ones who look like they could be in cars if they wanted.

CliffordK

The Oregon government as been looking at that for a while. We already have a weight-mile tax on big trucks. But, I'm not sure it will be popular with the voters (hasn't been voted on by the people). I suppose some will vote their pocketbook, so if they drive a SUV that gets 10 MPG, they'll vote to tax the Priuses more. It is unclear if the legislature could impose the TAX on the people without a vote of the people. It may well be considered unconstitutional (in Oregon).

The benefit of the gas tax is that it is also a conservation tax.

Remove that, and there will be less incentive to buy efficient cars, or move to new technology.

Electric vehicles being largely untaxed might be an issue, but if we wish to encourage "clean technology", then, perhaps tax-free is a good incentive.

Unfortunately Oregon has fallen down a bit, but it is still in the top 5 states for renewable energy production with over 70% of our electricity coming from renewable energy. So, electric vehicles are actually good, especially if they can be charged with off-peak power.

How will we capture out of state vehicles? It may well prove to be complex if out of state vehicles are given one tax rate and in state vehicles get a different tax rate.

CliffordK

Tax STRAVA?

Darth Lefty 

No, no! That's not how we do it these days. Spend half a decade building up a huge user base and then feed a ton of ads

johnny99

I still like the gas tax. Why not reward cars that burn less oil and create less air pollution? Besides, how can the government accurately and efficiently tax mileage? And would a mileage tax take into account the increased road wear caused by heavier vehicles?

Chief

A tax on miles traveled is one of the few remaining nails needed for the coffin containing freedom.

KD5NRH

This would be my main concern; in general, the heavier the vehicle, the worse its gas mileage and therefore, the more gas tax it pays. That balances out fairly well with road wear.

CliffordK

Stud Tax?

DiabloScott

Presumably the mileage tax rate varies with vehicle weight.

I have no objection to a gas tax, I'd just like to see more money for road maintenance.

Darth Lefty 

Gross or net? I think the tax on a 14lb road bike should be pretty high

Loose Chain

I think the best way to fund bike ways is to tax bicycles and cyclists. There could be a license and fee to ride the bicycle, a tire tax, a bicycle registration fee, a toll for bike ways and an extra tax at purchase of any new or used bicycle. Parking fees should also be charged. Bicycles made from anything that cannot be recycled there should be a green tax for disposal to discourage purchase and use of such materials.

Chief

Extra double tax for spandex wearers?

Trevtassie

This happens in New Zealand on vehicles heavier than 3.5T and diesel vehicles. The tax is based on weight.

Gresp15C

Certainly the coffin containing privacy... which probably equates to freedom.

CliffordK

Should we also have a sneaker and loafer tax? Oh, and stilettos are very damaging, they should be triple taxed.

One of the jobs of government is to provide public places, parks, and greenways, and public access.

On the MUPS around here, only about half the users are cyclists. The other half are walkers, runners, taking the dog out for a walk. Taking the kids for walk. The best way to get from the University campus too the University football stadium is to walk across a bike bridge, and along the MUP/Bike Path.

Should cyclists pay for bike paths, but walkers get sidwalks for free (initial cost built into neighborhood development costs, then maintained by city)?

Looking at survey results (and extrapolating a little).
One in Three Americans Rides a Bike | Bicycling

About a third of Americans ride a bicycle (some).
I think it says about half of Americans own a bike.
And less than a third of Americans are disinterested in riding.

So, if it becomes a yes/no usage tax, then a good portion of the Americans will be picked up. But, it would likely also discourage a lot of people from riding. So, while one might get pretty infrastructure, one would get fewer riders.

I hate parking meters. So if given a choice of paying say $1 per ride vs staying on the streets, I might just ride on the streets. Again, making problems worse.

I haven't bought a tire at a LBS for quite some time. So taxing local tire sales will likely push more people away from their LBS if there is an alternative.

One thing that I've pointed out many times is that wide lanes and shoulders are as good for cars as they are good for cyclists. And providing a safe place for cyclists to ride also helps car traffic move better, and perhaps reduce the mess of accidents.

Rollfast

All happy socialist thinking until a state or DC does it, then all hades will break loose.


And fuel taxes don't pay for highways so much as you think, or we'd all be on horseback.


My dad sold gasoline.