Couple of days ago, I received an e-mail from our HR that our $100 per month pre-tax commuter benefits will be moved to another company. Since I bike to work every day, I did not use the commuter benefits so far, but I decided to look at the new benefits.
Several of them make sense, such as: Bus, Ferry, Streetcar, Subway, and Train. Let’s promote the public transportation. Though I only use it when traveling and when I go to SF, I am a huge proponent of public transport.
Then there is: Vanpool (seating for 6 or more adult passengers, excluding driver; 80% of mileage is to transport employees and 50% of seating capacity used for employee transport). That sounds pretty good too, though it is hard to enforce.
Now, when I saw these two, I got really upset:
- Parking at or near work
- Parking at or near public transportation to get to work
I understand the need for … Actually I don’t. If you are driving to work and need to park on a pay parking spot…? Drive to public transportation? Am I missing something?
So, I suggest the following new “eligible expenses”:
- Bike tubes / tires / CO2 cartridges / tube fix kits
- Bike safety / helmets / lights
- Bike repair tools / pumps
- Bikes
These expenses would only be tax deductible for people who bike to work several days a week, let say the magic number 3. There would be several benefits to these benefits:
- Less cars on the roads, so roads would be safer, in better shape, and so less money would be spend on maintenance
- Cyclists would be better equipped, so less wasted time, less cycling accidents, and less frustration
- People would get more exercise, so there would be less stress and healthier people
Finally, it would solve a whole lot of other problems that people may or may not realize at this point:
- Cleaner environment, such as air
- Less trash next to the road
- Less road rage
- Less need for roads ~ more space for green
- Less suburban sprawl
- More jobs for bike mechanics
- …
Reading about tax benefits to polluters always leaves a horrible taste in my mouth. Especially when there are no obvious benefits to them. So, instead of investing into infrastructure to support the pollution and destruction of the environment, why not chose the clean, renewable, leg energy? Support biking to work.
Tags: Bike to Work,Cycling,Environment,Public Transportation,San Francisco
Categories: Biking, Environment, Peace, Rants
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