State lawmaker defends bike tax, says bicycling is not good for the environment

[dmcowen674]

This was Title of the same article Slashdot used

NOT TRUE: Washington Republican wants to ban bicycling because releases too much CO2



3-20-2013

http://www.seattlebikeblog.com/2013...not-good-for-the-environment-should-be-taxed/


State lawmaker defends bike tax, says bicycling is not good for the environment



Representative Ed Orcutt (R – Kalama) does not think bicycling is environmentally friendly because the activity causes cyclists to have “an increased heart rate and respiration.”

“You would be giving off more CO2 if you are riding a bike than driving in a car,” he said.

He also stands by his opinion that people who bike do not pay for roads when they ride.


“When you are riding your bicycle, tell me what taxes are being generated by the act of riding your bicycle,” he said. “Sales tax does not go into roads.”

op was infracted for the false exaggeration thread title at 7:21am. OP has since edited the thread title to match reality. -Admin DrPizza

 

[dmcowen674]

This is the tax on air everyone knew Politicians were eventually going to get around to.

 

[michal1980]

your title is misleading dumbcowen.

 

[Druidx]

Why cant you just make one post, instead of always having to make the first reply to every stupid thread you start?

 

[Doppel]

Washington Republican wants to ban bicycling because releases too much CO2

Yet another in a long line of demonstrably false/bullshit/misleading titles.

Why are you still allowed to post here?

 

[Rifter]

Your goverment is even more fucked than i thought, i honestly cant understand how you allow these people to stay in office when they are obviously insane.

I mean seriously thinking a human is turning out more Co2 than a car engine should be enough to get you certified as insane.

 

[dmcowen674]

your title is misleading dumbcowen.

That was the Title of the article Slashdot used.

You and Dr Pizza should complain to Slashdot.

But, you only used a portion of their title. -DrPizza.

 

[Doppel]

That was the Title of the article Slashdot used.

You and Dr Pizza should complain to Slashdot.

And yet when I google "Washington Republican wants to ban bicycling because releases too much CO2" it comes back only to this thread.

Slashdot: http://science.slashdot.org/story/1...earth-friendly-because-breathing-produces-co2

More lies from Mcowned, and more forced to change threat title. FYI mcowned, I was the one who reported your post. Just trying to keep you honest.

 

[Druidx]

More lies from Mcowned, and more forced to change threat title. FYI mcowned, I was the one who reported your post. Just trying to keep you honest.

I bet that is a full time job.

 

[lotus503]

Given that roads in washington and Oregon are very cyclist friendly I have no problem chipping in and helping pay for roads.

However rather than just a tax I think it should be bike registration which would also help with theft etc.

 

[cubby1223]

10:1 this politician's intentions is to make a mockery of global warming, has no intentions of seeing this tax pass.

But it sounds like he's taking it way too far to the point it questions his sanity.

 

[piasabird]

Make them register their bikes and dont allow access to the bikepaths unless they have a current Bike Licesnse and charge them like $100 a year. Then Issue a $500 fine for every offense of biking without a license. Lets see how stupid we can make this. I Can see a new cop show called Bike Fuzz.

 

[Lithium381]

Make them register their bikes and dont allow access to the bikepaths unless they have a current Bike Licesnse and charge them like $100 a year. Then Issue a $500 fine for every offense of biking without a license. Lets see how stupid we can make this. I Can see a new cop show called Bike Fuzz.

:thumbsup: It's not even a constitutional right he's jumping on!

 

[Lithium381]

And yet when I google "Washington Republican wants to ban bicycling because releases too much CO2" it comes back only to this thread.

Slashdot: http://science.slashdot.org/story/1...earth-friendly-because-breathing-produces-co2

More lies from Mcowned, and more forced to change threat title. FYI mcowned, I was the one who reported your post. Just trying to keep you honest.

It is a full time job huh . . stalking dave all the time?

 

[piasabird]

My comment was meant to be sarcastic. Just think of some 5 year old boy that wants a bicycle. How can you tax freedom? I really think the government should be convincing people to get more exercise. Maybe fat people produce more CO2 walking up the steps. Plants need CO2 to make Oxygen.

Is this taxation without representation?

On the other side of the coin they are passing extra tax on Hybrid and electric cars to repair the roads. The government paid them an incentive to purchase a gas saving vehicle now there is not enough gas tax to repair roads. So the Government now wants them top pay a tax to make up for the gas tax they are not paying. This is real Irony.

 

[Theb]

Cyclists produce more pollution than cars? They need to drug test that guy.

 

[Jaskalas]

Cyclists produce more pollution than cars? They need to drug test that guy.

What you exhale, CO2, has been deemed a pollutant. When you exert yourself you're breathing more rapidly, releasing more CO2 into the atmosphere.

It remains to be seen how that would compare to a vehicle's CO2 emissions.

 

[Theb]

What you exhale, CO2, has been deemed a pollutant. When you exert yourself you're breathing more rapidly, releasing more CO2 into the atmosphere.

It remains to be seen how that would compare to a vehicle's CO2 emissions.

It has been studied, which is beside the fact that it's a ridiculous assertion.

Even with the CO2 emissions of food required to power a bicycle, the ECF study found that — while not emissions free — the bicycle is still the lowest emitter of greenhouse gasses per passenger kilometer traveled. One of the key findings was that emissions from cycling are over 10 times lower than those stemming from the passenger car, "even taking into account the additional dietary intake of a cyclist compared with that of a motorised transport user."

Link.

 

[Nintendesert]

So if I put 11 people in my car I'm more ecologically sound than douchecycle riders. Amazing stuff you learn on the internets!

 

[Jaskalas]

It remains to be seen how that would compare to a vehicle's CO2 emissions.

I couldn't let that question rest.

Car 21 MPG, ~ 1 pound per mile: http://www.epa.gov/otaq/climate/documents/420f11041.pdf
Human 2.3 pounds per day (must vary a lot): http://wiki.answers.com/Q/How_much_co2_does_human_body_emit

4 passengers (not even realistic)
9.2 pounds

Missing a key piece of the puzzle here, how much extra breathing does each mile of bike riding cause?

Let's guess the bike exercise really works you out, and randomly throw out a 20% increase in daily output. (Big stretch here) Worst of all it's a simplification. The number would depend on how far you travel.

11.04 pounds.

With 4 passengers in the car you've got 2 pounds / miles to work with before the car pollution exceeds your own using a very dubious number I just pulled from the air. Either way it's not looking good for the comparison. I don't need the final number to tell you I don't expect human emissions rival a vehicle.

It has been studied, which is beside the fact that it's a ridiculous assertion.

Link.

Fascinating. Maybe they have a number to help me with my estimation.

 

[Theb]

I couldn't let that question rest.

Car 21 MPG, ~ 1 pound per mile: http://www.epa.gov/otaq/climate/documents/420f11041.pdf
Human 2.3 pounds per day (must vary a lot): http://wiki.answers.com/Q/How_much_co2_does_human_body_emit

4 passengers (not even realistic)
9.2 pounds

Missing a key piece of the puzzle here, how much extra breathing does each mile of bike riding cause?

Let's guess the bike exercise really works you out, and randomly throw out a 20% increase in daily output. (Big stretch here) Worst of all it's a simplification. The number would depend on how far you travel.

11.04 pounds.

With 4 passengers in the car you've got 2 pounds / miles to work with before the car pollution exceeds your own using a very dubious number I just pulled from the air. Either way it's not looking good for the comparison. I don't need the final number to tell you I don't expect human emissions rival a vehicle.



Fascinating. Maybe they have a number to help me with my estimation.

You need to account for extra CO2 expelled whistling and yelling too.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V3nMnr8ZirI

 

[lotus503]

Make them register their bikes and dont allow access to the bikepaths unless they have a current Bike Licesnse and charge them like $100 a year. Then Issue a $500 fine for every offense of biking without a license. Lets see how stupid we can make this. I Can see a new cop show called Bike Fuzz.

as a very active cyclist, registration is something a lot of folks have been pushing for. Bike theft for example is a huge problem, im not talking your kids mongoose rather 5k-12k high performance bikes.

Registration allows law enforcement to deal with it like a car, unlike now where its treated like shoplifting.

 

[drebo]

Cyclists produce more pollution than cars? They need to drug test that guy.

No, the article clearly says cyclists produce more pollution than DRIVERS.

Pretty sure this is a joke bill.

 

[lotus503]

No, the article clearly says cyclists produce more pollution than DRIVERS.

Pretty sure this is a joke bill.

Its not a joke bill and the guy is actually factually correct

you riding a bike vs sitting in a car are giving off more CO2.

sure the car is spitting a shit ton out but the human is not.

and no its not a joke, its also not a bad idea either. if cyclist want to be treated and respected on the road by drivers then chipping in on the cost to maintain them would help that.

 

[OverVolt]

Biking is not good for the gasoline tax. So they must money grab in other ways. That is all.

I'm able to speak politician.

They can't raise the gas tax on the fewer number of people who are driving because gas prices are already high and people are already avoiding gas guzzlers, for the most part. It would harm the economy. Not everyone of course, but damn could I go for a 40mpg car over my 30mpg car.

Anyone getting under 20mpg I feel for them.