Oregon bicycle owners beware!

[Aint Doody]

Well, my blood is boiling. A cyclist-hating state representative in Oregon is sponsoring a bill to initiate the registration of bicycles. They want to charge the same fee for registering a bicycle as to register a vehicle. You won't believe this:

http://bikeportland.org/2009/03/06/mandatory-bike-registration-bill-introduced-in-salem/#more-15779

I've emailed these guys sponsoring this bill as well as my state representative.

[uforgot]

That could get pretty expensive if you have multiple bikes. Also, like some of them said, do you have serial numbers on handmade bikes?

[SadieKate]

So your 10 year old rides a handmedown bike to school. He better start saving his pennies now - and he'll get an early indoctrination into the ways of the DMV.

[jobob]

How absurd. Good luck getting that thing struck down.

[smilingcat]

Don't take this lightly. Smack it down before it gets any sort of life. I've been getting involved with advocacy for few things. And one thing I'm finding out is that don't take it for granted.

Start a letter writing and phone calling effort now and put a stop to it immediately. See what happened to prop 8 in California.

I know Portland is really bike friendly and bike-centric. Just don't be complacent about the whole thing. And don't assume someone else will carry your banner.

smilingcat

[Tuckervill]

Registering bikes is nothing new, really. I have two bikes in my garage from 1974, and they both have bike license plates on them from the city of Denver, with the date and everything, all official. In my small town in Illinois, our bikes were registered with the police department, in case of theft. It didn't cost anything.

I question the cost in the bill proposed, and we sure don't want that kind of thing to spread around. But I do have to ask, since Oregon has so many facilities for bikes (lanes and paths), who does pay for all that if not cyclists? I realize that many cyclists also drive cars and pay property taxes that probably pay for bike lanes. I think it's a valid question.

The former trooper does seem to have an axe to grind, though.

Karen

[SadieKate]

Licensing bikes is one thing. $54 for each and every bike bike without regard is another. A contact at a LBS just emailed me and said it does look like the bill is going down in flames but I haven't done any research on it myself.

Of course, Oregon is also proposing raising beer taxes 1900%. That ought to be good for our local small breweries.

Apparently, moderation is not in our reps vocabulary.

Sort of like requiring ethanol in our gasoline, which means our fuel mileage has gone down and our gas consumption has gone up.

[SadieKate]

But I do have to ask, since Oregon has so many facilities for bikes (lanes and paths) . . . It depends on where you are in Oregon.

[Irulan]

that's more than we pay in washington state for CARS.

[Eden]

Yeah - what she said....

From what I understand, this guy basically does have an axe to grind with cyclists and this whole thing is a stunt to get his views aired.... It is doubtful it will pass, but stranger things have happened. Of course $54 every two years is ridiculous... places that have bike registrations do it to try to curb theft and the fee is usually something like $5 for life... Many people would not be able to afford a fee that large, and many people (and in all likely hood those who need them the most) have bikes with a resale value less than one or two payments of the proposed fee...

[madscot13]

that is more for a permit for my canoe, where the money goes to upkeep of minnesota water ways and is less than a motor boat.

I suppose I would not mind a small registration fee if that money actually went to something dedicated to bikes such as bike lanes, direct trails, and biking amenities like bike lockers and showers at work. I would much prefer that instead of parking lanes for cabs and other miscellaneous cars, a scraped up bike that someone felt the need to bash around, and smelling like diesel and sweat.

[ilima]

I question the cost in the bill proposed, and we sure don't want that kind of thing to spread around. But I do have to ask, since Oregon has so many facilities for bikes (lanes and paths), who does pay for all that if not cyclists? I realize that many cyclists also drive cars and pay property taxes that probably pay for bike lanes. I think it's a valid question.

There is a misconception that tag fees are funneled directly back to roads. They're not. Money for roads and bike lanes comes from general funds and often from the federal government.

It's beneficial for drivers (at least that don't like being stuck in traffic) to have as many people moved to the bike lanes as possible.

Bikes lanes benefit everybody, not just those that actually ride a bike on them.

[beccaB]

I hope our Governor doesn't hear about that proposal. Michigan is really hurting and a lot of fees have been added and existing ones going up. I voted for her twice, but it's getting so expensive to live here the state of Michigan is going to become a ghost town in a few years. On a side note, my daughter had to register her bicycle at her college but it was free.

[Tuckervill]

There is a misconception that tag fees are funneled directly back to roads. They're not. Money for roads and bike lanes comes from general funds and often from the federal government.


I guess that depends on the state. In Arkansas, fuel taxes, vehicle registration fees, taxes on heavy trucks, and of course, federal funds pay for roads. Our vehicle registration fee is less than $25, though.

So that's what I was asking, where does the money come from for bike lanes in Oregon? There must be some federal money involved, but where else?

Karen

[Aggie_Ama]

Wow in Texas I pay $71 to register my vehicles. Of course we do have miles and miles of chip seal. :p

[Irulan]

There is a misconception that tag fees are funneled directly back to roads. They're not. Money for roads and bike lanes comes from general funds and often from the federal government.



This is going to vary state by state I am sure.

[Brandi]

I paid 170.00 to reg my car! california better not hear about this or I will go broke with all the bike we have!

[GLC1968]

Yeah, because ODOT needs more things to do?! Seriously - they'd be up to their ears in transferring licences every time a bike was sold! My husband alone would keep them hopping with the rate at which he buys and sells bikes!

And how would they 1)enforce this? and 2) determine what qualifies as a bike? I mean, we've got enough extra parts in our garage to form a couple of whole road-worthy bikes....but they are just parts now. Would they require us to register frames? Or only whole bikes?

The bill is stupid, but seeing as how there is such a push to tax the number of miles people drive (instead of the gas they use), I wouldn't be surprised if we see this type of proposal come up again and again as a way to make money for the state.

[SadieKate]

Would I have to send photos of a bike frame up on blocks in my front yard? Perhaps surround it with beer cans?

[Aggie_Ama]

Would I have to send photos of a bike frame up on blocks in my front yard? Perhaps surround it with beer cans?


lmao!!

Seriously, we have a hardtail that DH won't sell because one day we might make it race worthy again. It won't shift but it does have wheels. Then I have two bikes and he has three others rideable. And according to him we "need" more bikes. Don't let our Texas lawmakers get wind of this, they aren't friendly to cyclists and I am sure would love to charge us somehow.

[SadieKate]

Then I have two bikes and he has three others rideable. Wuss. You aren't even trying. :p

[Aggie_Ama]

Wuss. You aren't even trying. :p

I am completely open to expanding the fleet. My checkbook laughs at my imagination. :p

[Susan Otcenas]

Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Primary Contact:
Karl Rohde
Government Relations and Public Affairs Director
(503) 226-0676 x12
(503) 866-8222
karl@bta4bikes.org

BTA OPPOSES PROPOSED BICYCLE REGISTRATION BILL

March 9, 2009 - The Bicycle Transportation Alliance opposes bicycle registration and other
annual fees on bicycle ownership because:
• The net revenue realized would not contribute significantly to the construction and
maintenance of roads and the ancillary facilities necessary for complete streets,
• The cost of registration would discourage bicycling – a clean, healthy and sustainable
transportation alternative, and
• Bicyclists already pay more than their share of road costs through other taxes.
Past efforts to require bicycle registration and the experience of other communities have
demonstrated that the net proceeds, after deducting the administrative costs, of bicycle
registration programs are minimal. Discussions of these proposals during prior legislative
sessions have demonstrated that bicycle registration is not a viable method for funding
transportation facilities. Most other states and communities with registration programs have
discontinued them for this reason.
Bicycling provides a clean, healthy and sustainable alternative mode of transportation. The costs
of providing facilities to accommodate and encourage bicycling are minimal in comparison to
the value derived by reducing the impacts of our present reliance on motor vehicles for
transportation. Rather than discouraging bicycling by requiring cyclists to pay even more of the
costs imposed by motor vehicle operation, policy makers should be exploring ways to make
bicycling safer, more convenient, and accessible for all citizens.
Many proponents of bicycle registration hold the erroneous perception that motor vehicle
operators pay the costs of their use of the transportation system through gas taxes and that
bicyclists do not pay their fair share of road construction and maintenance costs. In fact, the gas
taxes paid by motorists are not sufficient to pay these costs. Property taxes and a variety of other
fees that are levied without respect to the mode of transportation used by the taxpayer provide
the balance of the road construction and maintenance funds. Bicyclists actually contribute more
through these fees than the costs attributable to their use of the transportation system.
The Bicycle Transportation Alliance is a statewide non-profit organization that works to open
minds and roads to bicycling. We represent bicyclists and the bicycle industry with over 5000
members in Oregon and SW Washington, and have seventeen years of experience in bicycle
engineering, planning, education and advocacy.
- END -

[Tri Girl]

What a crazy idea! The manpower to process/upkeep all that paperwork alone would cost the state ten times more than the money they would make in fees. Seriously, that's a ridiculous notion. It would discourage a lot of people from riding, I think, causing more cars on the road (why bike when a car tag costs the same?). Hmmmm...

Our car tags are usually in the $300 range new, and it goes down every year by a little. I'm still paying $80/yr for my 8 year old car. I would die if I had to pay $50 per bike every year. It would make me cranky (or crankier). :)

[Tuckervill]

That press release answered my question. Thank you!

I wanted to say that in Arkansas, the vehicle registration is $25, but we pay annual personal property taxes separately, based on the value of the vehicle, as well. It's just lumped in with other property, so it doesn't feel like a fee on the vehicle. We also pay personal property taxes on the furniture in our house, too.

Karen

[Aint Doody]

Susan, thanks for posting the press release. As I said, I've emailed those sponsoring the bill as well as my local state rep. I don't think it'll go anywhere, but we still have to be vigilant as was stated in another post.

People in our bike club want them to add skateboards, wheelchairs, shoes with the little wheels, and just plain old shoes! I think that just points up the absurdity of the whole idea.

[GLC1968]

People in our bike club want them to add skateboards, wheelchairs, shoes with the little wheels, and just plain old shoes! I think that just points up the absurdity of the whole idea.

Don't forget baby strollers and those jogger things! ;)

[Biciclista]

http://theboothbychronicles.blogspot.com/


SHARE THE ROAD - SHARE THE LOAD. IT'S THAT SIMPLE
I keep hearing and reading this from motorists who don’t like bicyclists and see them as “freeloaders”, and I am really getting tired of it. Who died and made you guys the tax police for crying out loud? Please explain to me just exactly what you mean by 'it's that simple'. And now we have these four legislators in Oregon who want everyone to be forced to register their bikes at a cost of $54 every two years or face a $90 fine. There would be a $25 fine for failing to notify the State when ownership changes hands, too.

I read this “cyclists are freeloaders” garbage in the blogs. I read it in the editorial pages and I read it in the “sound-off” forums. I hear it from motorists who yell at me and tell me to get off the road that was built for them. Well excuse me, ladies and gentlemen, but you are totally missing the point. Let me pose a question to you. The sidewalks in front of your house are paid for with highway and property taxes. I'd like to know just exactly when you plan to register your Nikes, because I PAID FOR THOSE SIDEWALKS with my gas taxes, auto registration, drivers license and other highway user fees, as well as the property tax I paid on the home I own. Where do you get off sharing my road without paying your fair share of taxes when you go out for an evening walk around the block?

more click on the link above

[Aint Doody]

Oooh, Mimi. I like what he has to say. I'm going to forward that link to some people I know.:)

[Zen]

I know the guy that writes that blog. What a wacky old curmudgeon ;):D

[Aint Doody]

But, Zen, he makes some really good points. And besides I like wacky, old curmudgeons.

[Tuckervill]

What would the letters section of the newspaper be without the local curmudgeon? :)

Karen

[salsabike]

I know the guy that writes that blog. What a wacky old curmudgeon ;):D


But, Zen, he makes some really good points. And besides I like wacky, old curmudgeons.

<snort> So does Biciclista. I believe that would be the spousal blog she's citing...

[Biciclista]

more from the wacky old curmudgeon (has the ring of truth!)

http://theboothbychronicles.blogspot.com/
Dear Representative Krieger:

I've been accused recently of being a wacky old curmudgeon for something I recently posted in my blog expressing my feelings about your new proposal to the Oregon State Legislature. You can read that if you would like, but I doubt it would give you any great insights or change your mind. I did, however, find one of your remarks to Bicycle Portland recently to be particularly telling:

"Talk about a time when you need some revenue for transportation...bikes have used the roads in this state forever and have never contributed a penny. The only people that pay into the system are those people who buy motor vehicle licenses and registration fees."

Your logic here, sir, is flawed. Every citizen, regardless of their mode of transportation, pays into the sytem. Here are just a few examples.

When I leave my house and walk to the grocery store, spend $100 in purchases of food and other essentials, I am paying a price for those goods. In order for those goods to be manufactured, tranported to a warehouse, picked up and transported from the warehouse to the grocery store, there was a price to pay for shipping. It costs roughly $6,000 in freight charges to move a truck load of fresh produce from California to New York. Of that, a substantial portion pays for gasoline and other highway taxes. Further, each employee of the grocery store had to get to work. Most of them drove. Their salaries are paid by the grocery store, who adds the cost of those salaries into the cost of goods sold. Those salaries paid for the automobiles those employees drove to work. By my purchase of goods, I, too, paid for the construction and maintenance of those roads. I paid for this whether I owned a car, drove a car, rode a bicycle, rode the bus, or flew.

more at the blog!

[sundial]

We also pay personal property taxes on the furniture in our house, too.

Yeah, isn't that dumb? I just hope Arkansas doesn't get tax happy here pretty soon. I have a feeling though the farmers are about to get creamed. :(