The "I pay tax and insurance" situation

[aberal]

There's an interesting article on the history of Britain's roads here:
http://www.cyclingsc...otorists-roads/

Thanks for posting that link - that made interesting reading.

This is quite brilliant..... A satirical verse in Punch magazine of 1907 summed up this attitude from some drivers:“The roads were made for me; years ago they were made. Wise rulers saw me coming and made roads. Now that I am come they go on making roads – making them up. For I break things. Roads I break and Rules of the Road. Statutory limits were made for me. I break them. I break the dull silence of the country. Sometimes I break down, and thousands flock round me, so that I dislocate the traffic. But I am the Traffic.”

 

[davefb]

A friend who is a civil engineer (and a cyclist) told me that the damage to the roads is something like the 4th power of the axle weight. (I think). I.e. if you taxed a cyclist 1p a year for the damage they did to the road, the tax on a car, based on weight, would be £1000... Unfortunately I can't remember the exact numbers he gave, but it was something like that.

There's an interesting article on the history of Britain's roads here:
http://www.cyclingsc...otorists-roads/

well sounds about right.... though with wagons the problem isn't helped due to cornering and fixed axles..

essentially people who cycle are contributing, but motorists are damaging the roads assuming equal taxes paid by cyclist/motorists....

 

[snailracer]

I don't bother explaining about VED now. I just tell them that I pay the same as someone who drives a Toyota Prius and leave it at that.

By that formula, the govt should be paying us to cycle

 

[growingvegetables]

Insurance for my bike, including theft, damage, and third party responsibility = £30.00 (or less).

So two answers

"How dare you suggest I don't pay income, council and other taxes that actually pay for roads. I put you to the proof in a court of law."

"My insurance costs £30.00 a year - so cheap they daren't offer a no-claims bonus. How much does your insurance cost?"

 

[mangaman]

This goes some way to explaining it.

Thanks for the link.

I think this is the key to why confrontations with motorists never work.

As the article says - it will actually reinforce the driver's irrational beliefs about cyclists.

Better (unless really threatened) to ignore the situation and hope things like rising petrol prices actually make people think twice before leaping in their cars for a few mile journey.

If really threatened, I'd get my phone out and start videoing / threaten to call the police etc.

 

[benb]

By that formula, the govt should be paying us to cycle

That's a good point. You can get a government grant for £5,000 off an electric car, why can't you get a grant for a bike?

 

[Jezston]

That's a good point. You can get a government grant for £5,000 off an electric car, why can't you get a grant for a bike?

Another reason to consider scrapping C2W and just making bikes and bike accessories VAT exempt.