Q: Please remind C.J. Fox, who thinks roads were built solely for motorized vehicles, that roads where pedestrians, bicycles and horses are prohibited are only some roads, called freeways.
All other roads were built for multiuse: cars, bikes, pedestrians, and once, the horse and buggy. Correct me if I’m wrong, but equestrians still have the ultimate right of way over pedestrians, who have the right of way over cyclists. Motor vehicles are last.
Joe Johnson
A: You are correct.
Q: I’m a forever reader of your column, and you provide great info, but you missed the mark in your response to C.J. Fox and bike riders. You think the sales tax goes toward green lanes, bike stencils, and stanchions? Most likely, not. They do not pay a gas tax, which cars do, and with the cost of current cars, have you seen the sales tax on that?! I believe that bicyclists need to register and receive a yearly tag, like cars. And yes, insurance. They constantly run stop signs and red lights. Only once in decades of driving have I seen a biker get a ticket.
Riding e-bikes on sidewalks and also not stopping at road signs is beyond stupid.
Karen Prouty, Santa Cruz
A: You make a strong case.
Q: I agree with the reader who thinks that bicyclists get free use of roads paid for by drivers. You stated that bicyclists pay for road use through sales taxes. What sort of sales taxes do bicyclists pay that non-cyclists don’t pay? (I pay sales taxes on all auto-related purchases, e.g., tires, in addition to paying taxes on gasoline, etc.).
Lynne Ellinwood, Richmond
A: And…
Q: People with car fees pay sales tax, too. They buy a car and their sales tax is more than that of a person buying a bicycle. Drop the argument that bicyclists maintain roads because they pay sales tax.
Joe Ruk
A: And…
Q: I really am surprised. I pay the same sales tax and fees for roads that bicyclists pay, which is in addition to the license fees, smog fees and gas taxes I pay. How does that balance out what a bicyclist pays? At 9 percent, a bicyclist would have to spend over $8,900 to equal what I spend on just license and weight fees. The gas tax and smog would be extra. I also have two bikes, but they sit in the shed. I may be crazy, but not that crazy. I want metal around my old bones.
J. T. Ruffo, Monte Sereno
A: The feedback I got on my answer was all along these lines .. .that bicyclists, too, should be paying for licenses and insurance, too.
Look for Gary Richards at Facebook.com/mr.roadshow or contact him at mrroadshow@bayareanewsgroup.com.
Source: www.mercurynews.com