Bicycle Tax

Every year there's a "cyclists should be registered, cyclists should be trained, cyclists should pay tax" article.

Realistically, who is going to pay for the implementation? It's a total non-argument as the costs and policing would far outweigh any return from the cyclists.

Meh. Helmet debate >>>

This a million times. Cycling is allegedly getting more and more popular right, thus more people on the street. Bikes are small/multi use vehicles. I.e they serve multi purposes for transport, recreation, fitness etc. bought new and second hand. So how do you enforce a tax on all these bikes being ridden at random times and sold/bought randomly
Too. Cars have a large footprint, bikes barely any. Itll be like the 30's prohibition, a futile excercise that will backfire.
Education, education, education.

I do recall a motorbike policeperson pulling into the ASL at Holborn Viaduct a year or so ago.
I tutted.

He then dismounted and issued tickets to the three other motorbikes and one car who were over the line.
I applauded.

What is the tax actually for, we know that income tax/council tax pays for roads?

And if taxing bikes why not tax skateboards, scooters etc,. Really can't understand why anyone would even mention tax on cyclists other than some sort of punishment for daring to cycle and hold up a driver in some way.

Helmets shouldnt be mandatory, as apparently I'm more likely to be hit wearing one

Lets not forget you can kill somone in a car and get call it a ''lapse in concentration''

who gives a fuck what car drivers think they are on the whole selfish ignorant morons especially the van + the 4w drive types ......they shoot up the road at stupid speeds with phones stuck to their ears its them that needs more rigorous testing !

Guilty as charged but then who gives a fuck, get out of my way, you don't even pay vehicle excise duty. Neither do those 1.6 diesel BMWs that I keep ramming out of my way. Or those silly little electric things that barely leave a dent in my bumper.

What is the tax actually for, we know that income tax/council tax pays for roads?

And if taxing bikes why not tax skateboards, scooters etc,. Really can't understand why anyone would even mention tax on cyclists other than some sort of punishment for daring to cycle and hold up a driver in some way.

Income/council tax doesn't go in to roads/highways. That's what road tax is for.

Helmets shouldnt be mandatory, as apparently I'm more likely to be hit wearing one

The one thing they don't take in to consideration is a cyclist's own mistakes. Studies might show that XYZ, doesn't mean that riding without a helmet is safe(r). I know that's not what you're saying, just adding/contributing.

Trolling?

Income/council tax doesn't go in to roads/highways. That's what road tax is for.
You write authoritatively on this subject - can you point me in the direction of the numbers that show the maintenance costs for Highways Agency maintained and Council maintained roads, and the cost / income of the DVLA, who administer "road tax".

You write authoritatively on this subject - can you point me in the direction of the numbers that show the maintenance costs for Highways Agency maintained and Council maintained roads, and the cost / income of the DVLA, who administer "road tax".

Probably too authoritatively. In answer to your question, no I can not.

Oh. I'm wondering how you come to your conclusion that "road tax" pays for the roads, in that case.

Oh. I'm wondering how you come to your conclusion that "road tax" pays for the roads, in that case.

Not so much a conclusion. I suppose I always assumed that that's what road tax was for. I don't drive a car or motorbike so have never paid it and never looked in to it.

Point taken.

Note to self; research what I'm talking about before posting (especially authoritively) on the Internet.

Start here: http://ipayroadtax.com/

Income/council tax doesn't go in to roads/highways. That's what road tax is for.

Alex, have a look here:

http://www.ipayroadtax.com/

Snap.

hippy does a Gerrans. Again.

Not so much a conclusion. I suppose I always assumed that that's what road tax was for. I don't drive a car or motorbike so have never paid it and never looked in to it.

Point taken.

Note to self; research what I'm talking about before posting (especially authoritively) on the Internet.

apology accepted

Note to self; research what I'm talking about before posting (especially authoritively) on the Internet.
I wouldn't worry too much about it - It's what we all do.

Respect for not being douchebags and making me feel like a bigger knob than I already do.

Appreciated.

tl;dr VED receipts £6bn, cost of roads £10bn

tl;dr VED receipts £6bn, cost of roads £10bn

Easily fixed deficit. Just charge each cyclist £1000 per year in tax. Starting to get it now...

Even if cyclists did everything in that article (pass a specific test, "pay tax", have insurance) motons would still find a reason to whinge about cyclists "holding them up".

No point getting wound up about the frothing fuckwits.

(Have passed car and motorcycle test, don't currently pay "road tax" but used to when I had a car, am insured through the CTC. Actually, didn't even pay road tax when I had a car as it was a deemed a classic car; a 1973 Triumph Spitfire).

Does anyone know where the money for pavements that run alongside roads come from? Clue: the same place that the money for the roads they run alongside comes from.

Mandatory tax and tax discs for pedestrians please.

Also according to statistics drivers would benefit greatly from wearing helmets.

Mandatory helmets for drivers please.

My Mum keeps slipping down the steps in her garden when she's out gardening. Last time she broke her arm.

Mandatory elbow pads for my Mum please.

That article is also seems confused, in that it states that drivers want cyclists to insure their bicycles. I'm sure that the drivers questioned actually wanted cyclists to carry 3rd party insurance in case they cause damage to drivers' cars, not to have their bikes insured against theft etc.

Many here are insured, simply join CTC, LCC or British Cycling and hey presto you have third party insurance.

tl;dr VED receipts £6bn, cost of roads £10bn

Does that £10bn include the cost of running the DVLA or is that a central gub'mint cost?