Robbie makes some excellent points, backed up by the links below.
In addition, I would point out that the motivation for building bike
paths comes from the danger posed by motorists. If we could expect a
reasonable level
of safety on the pubic highways that we all help subsidize, there would be
far less demand for separate, non-motorized highways.
For example, I think the Blackhawk path was built with 'hazard
mitigation' money, that is, to mitigate the hazard of biking on
University Avenue.
Quoting "STRAWSER, Charles" <[email protected]>:
Re: "We car drivers do pay gas taxes"
See "Do Roads Pay For Themselves? Setting the Record Straight on
Transportation Funding"
By the US Public Interest Research Group
http://www.wispirg.org/home/reports/report-archives/transportation-reports/tr
ansportation/do-roads-pay-for-themselves
and also some discussion of it in Grist :
"Do Roads Pay for Themselves? Well, No."
http://www.grist.org/article/2011-01-04-do-roads-pay-for-themselves-well-no
chuck
________________________________
From: [email protected]
[mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Robbie Webber
Sent: Monday, April 25, 2011 10:11 AM
To: Mary Mullen
Cc: [email protected]
Subject: Re: [Bikies] Capital City Trail to Cottage Grove
First, let's not pile on Larry Nelson (retired City Engineer for the City of
Madison, for those who don't know) about a trail pass requirement for trails
outside the City. Madison does not charge for use of their paths and trails.
The link we are talking about here - from the Interstate to Cottage Grove -
will likely be under the administration of Dane County.
Although we can debate whether bicyclists should have to pay for the trails
when we travel about by bike, since we do not have toll roads in Wisconsin,
saying that, "We car drivers pay gas taxes," dos not help the argument about
trail fees.
1. With few exceptions, such as Tim, most bicyclists also own cars, so we
bicyclists pay gas taxes as well. We do not allocate space on the road based
on how much each of us pays in gas tax. A fuel efficient car driven only 5000
miles per year gets the same access to the road as a hulking, gas-guzzling
F-150 driven every day 100 miles round trip.
2. Most of the roads we drive on, and almost 100% of the roads we bike on,
are local roads - not interstates or state roads, and even few major county
roads. Why does that make a difference? Because very little gas tax money
goes to local roads. These are paid for almost 100% by property taxes. And I
can assure you that I pay plenty of property taxes. However, people driving
in from Mt Horeb, Dodgeville, Sun Prairie, or Sauk City do not pay local
property taxes, and yet they get to drive on our roads.
3. Even when you include ALL roads, even those big interstates and expensive
urban interchanges, only 40% of road costs in Wisconsin are paid for by user
fees - that is gas taxes, plus car licensing and registration. Remember, we
don't have tolls in Wisconsin, except on non-motorized paths. The rest is
made up by property taxes, income taxes, and sales taxes.
For more on how roads are funded in Wisconsin, see the excellent briefing
booklet from 1000 Friends of Wisconsin, "Exceeding the Limit."
http://www.scribd.com/doc/19750837/Exceeding-the-Limit
And recently, even the federal government has been using "general revenue,"
that is sources other than the gas tax. Until recently, the feds had always
used only user fees, but our appetite for roads got too big, and no Senator
or Representative is willing to turn off the tap for projects when the money
runs out, so we have started tapping the general revenue stream - your
federal taxes - whether you drive or own a car or not.
So, while I understand the need of the DNR to get funds to pay for their
trails - I serve as the bicycle representative on the DNR-staffed Governor's
State Trails Council - I think it is kind of disingenuous to think car
drivers are paying their way, and bicyclists are not. Also, I don't notice
much appetite in state government to suggest a modest $15/year additional fee
on car registration, or an increase in the state gas tax. As a matter of
fact, the federal gas tax has remained the same since 1993!
More on the funding of transportation at the federal level here:
http://frontporchcoffeetalk.blogspot.com/2011/04/raise-federal-gas-tax.html
And one final reminder: Dane County had/has a program that allows bicyclists
that use the Cap City Trail (and presumably the new piece of the Glacial
Drumlin Trail, when it is built) principally for transportation to apply for
a commuter pass - a free state trail pass, so you don't have to pay a
separate fee to go to work, shopping, or visit friends - just like the rest
of the road users. Perhaps a useful activity for those concerned about the
trail fee in Dane County would be to contact new Co Exec Joe Parisi to urge
him to continue this program.
http://www.countyofdane.com/pwht/pdf/hw/capitalstatetrail-380-162.pdf
Robbie Webber
On Mon, Apr 25, 2011 at 8:54 AM, Mary Mullen <[email protected]> wrote:
We car drivers do pay gas taxes.
On 4/25/11 1:39 AM, "tim wong" <[email protected]> wrote:
and Larry, remind me once again: why is it good public policy to
charge tolls for riding a non-polluting bicycle when heavily polluting cars
and trucks drive for free?
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