Here's a recent article which reports on the cost calculations made by a
Vancouver BC bicycle commuter:
http://www.vancourier.com/issues07/034107/news/034107nn8.html
He comes up with $.12CA/Km, which works out to about $.20US/mile. He is
counting capital equipment with a three-year amortization, maintenance
including consumables, but not food (or membership fees in a burial society
or theft insurance). Including food slightly more than doubles that-- to
$.26CA/Km. His employer reimburses those who drive a motor vehicle on
business errands at $.48/Km-- a little less than double what they give an
employee using a bike.
My point-- obscure?-- is that a credible argument can and has been made that
the full costs of operating a bicycle for travel purposes are *more* than
trivial.
Less clear to me personally is the wisdom of getting the government's taxmen
involved in every nook and cranny of our economic lives.
Mitchell Nussbaum wrote:
...
Unless my employer is willing to pay for a new commuter bike (fat chance
of that...) my out-of-pocket expenses for bike commuting are pretty
trivial, and any tax break would be insignificant. A change in the tax
code would have symbolic value, but not much practical effect.
...
_______________________________________________
Bikies mailing list
[email protected]
http://www.danenet.org/mailman/listinfo/bikies
