tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8908461644259659419.post2605737726175576948..comments2024-03-28T14:04:01.556-07:00Comments on Midlife Cycling: Who Voted For The Bicycle Tax?Justine Valinottihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10852069587181432102noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8908461644259659419.post-59848375438025975532017-07-20T13:16:55.292-07:002017-07-20T13:16:55.292-07:00Leo--That's an interesting explanation. I am ...Leo--That's an interesting explanation. I am one of those "outsiders" to whom you refer, and I was indeed baffled when I read about the tax. But it makes more sense now. It also worries me that the NYS legislature might pass something equally absurd because, as in Oregon, once you leave the liberal enclaves, it's actually a pretty conservative state. (That's why the State Senate usually has a Republican majority.)Justine Valinottihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10852069587181432102noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8908461644259659419.post-33855951828488652852017-07-19T09:38:34.886-07:002017-07-19T09:38:34.886-07:00This must seem confusing to outsiders. Isn't P...This must seem confusing to outsiders. Isn't Portland, Oregon, one of the best cycling cities in the country? How or why would the legislators vote for this?<br /><br />There are two Oregons. There is the Portland metropolitan area, and then there is the rest of Oregon. Portland was settled by mainly people from New England. They brought a set of values with them that were very progressive for the times. Their spirit lives on in Portland. But the rest of Oregon is more or less an extension of the Southern Rim, Kentucky, Tennessee, Missouri, etc. Even the speech of people changes when you leave Portland, and in rural areas there is a definite southern sound to the way people speak. Portlanders speak pretty much Mid Atlantic with a bit of a western twang to it. (I am speaking of people born in Oregon, especially the second and third generation. I am sixth generation.) <br /><br />Inside Portland there are bike lanes and people for the most part are careful and conservative drivers. Outside of, or even on the edge of Portland the SUVs are rollin' coal. The Oregon legislature must balance these two worlds, with odd results at times.<br /><br />Leo Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8908461644259659419.post-19048104685145371742017-07-19T07:37:08.417-07:002017-07-19T07:37:08.417-07:00MT--"Abomination" is the best term for t...MT--"Abomination" is the best term for that legislation. <br /><br />I would have loved to score that Raleigh Competition!Justine Valinottihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10852069587181432102noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8908461644259659419.post-15719208868039932022017-07-18T16:27:51.925-07:002017-07-18T16:27:51.925-07:00Most cyclists are law-abiding citizens who pay the...Most cyclists are law-abiding citizens who pay their fair share of taxes, including gas taxes. Where I live, Montana, most cyclists also own at least one vehicle. This tax seems especially punitive when one considers that Oregon levies no general sales tax. Instead of taxing things that can kill you -- firearms, ammunition, tobacco and soda come to mind -- this misguided effort targets the most efficient, health-enhancing and environmentally friendly form of transportation on the planet. One solution for skirting this abomination: Do like I do and buy your bikes on Craigslist and ebay. Some of my Craigslist-ebay bargains: 1990 Bridgestone MB3, $55; 1989 Bridgestone MB3, $50; 1977 Raleigh Competition, minus wheels, bars and pedals: $50. You get the picture.MT cyclisthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17451590809473759574noreply@blogger.com