Return of road tax

Following today's budget it looks like road tax, abolished in 1936 and famously used by idiot motorists to have a go at cyclists for daring to use the public highway without paying it, is to return.

http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2015/jul/08/budget-2015-osborne-unveils-green-car-tax-overhaul-to-fund-roadbuilding

I hope this doesn't set us back 80 years in terms of cycle campaigning...

Given that most people who cycle also own taxed cars it's kinda 'shrug'.

Not sure what the point of ring-fencing the money is though - like the BBC subscrip...I mean license fee the total collected won't nearly be enough to do the job. Right?

I think it's populist posturing by Osborne.

He is inferring (to those that don't know better) that he is making a big investment in new roads. Most people don't realise that the total pool of VED isn't enough to do this and that roads are largely subsidised by non-motoring taxes.

So he gets to stand up and basically say 'look at us caring about roads and motorists' and the ignorant of that number will say 'that's great, I like roads, nice one Tories'. But nothing really changes.

"he would also continue to freeze fuel duty this year, as he did throughout the last parliament"

Cock.

User-pays is the bestest.

"savings from MoTs may be offset for motorists by higher car insurance costs, as the chancellor announced that from November 2015 insurance premium tax would rise from 6% to 9.5%."

Doesn't change much; drivers who yell the road tax bullshit at us don't listen to facts and reason as it is. Hey, at least this way I can respond "So do I!" instead of "Actually road tax was abolished in 1937 and what you're in fact referring to is VED which is an emissions-based tax that actually just goes into the general pool of taxation and doesn't directly fun the roads; the fact that I might be in a higher income tax bracket than you probably means I actually pay more towards the upkeep of the roads than you do" which to be honest is quite hard to get drivers to listen to at the best of times, least of all when they're accelerating hard away from you as they angrily overtake.

Which is why "Do one, fuckface" is the Met's preferred response from cyclists to incompetent drivers.

This does remove one argument from cyclists. Zero emission cars paid no VED. Bicycles emitted no emissions and so should not pay VED either.

Opens up a next and dangerous step of VED on bicycles with necessary compulsory registration, testing, insurance etc etc.

Were it just me riding, then I'd agree - but time after time I see driver/rider altercations and the driver punishment passes the next cyclist up the road and really, fuck them but peaceful replies are the best way forward.

And if that's me up the road then they'll cop it all again.

Opens up a next and dangerous step of VED on bicycles with necessary compulsory registration, testing, insurance etc etc.

And if that came in the motons would still find reasons to complain:

• Don't pay enough VED, cars have to pay way more, bikes should pay the same
  
• Bicycle insurance is too cheap
  
• etc
  
  

As others have said, there's little point trying to counter their arguments with reason, they're not interested in changing their opinions.

I've now switched my response to "You don't pay road tax." to "Yes, I know, good isn't it."

I really don't think hypothecation is going to make any noticable difference to moton behaviour (on the road or towards cyclists).

I fuckin hate this country sometimes, its more money more money more money from they government leeches

absolutely

It's like he wanted to kill me in the face with a three way strike.

Bah

I fuckin hate this country sometimes, its more money more money more money from they government leeches

Their schtick is all about cuts so it seems but they want more money to fund what?

Abolish all politico-cunts now and run the country via software.

And yes cyclist taxing will come...

The government couldn't enforce a tax on people cycling, though I would like to see a police car pull over a kid riding to the shops with "where's your tax disc?"

If you sing "Return of Road Tax" in a Mark Morrisson style, it's so much fun. Now try getting that one out of your head this morning.

They used to occasionally when I was young growing up in Zimbabwe. We had bicycle tax disks.

The government couldn't enforce a tax on people cycling

In this digital age all things are possible. ID cards will be here are well with biometric microchips in them.

You will pay!!! (Dalek voice)

They used to occasionally when I was young growing up in Zimbabwe.

Welcome to Lonbabwe Martina!

Unavoidable: Death and taxes.

^ Starbucks.

^ and Cara f*cking Delevigne!

Unavoidable: Death and taxes.

And Australians in London.

I see lots but I never enter them. Does that count?