Should Oregon require $10 registration fee for bicycles?
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SALEM, Ore. - An Oregon lawmaker proposed a bill that would require bicyclists to pay a $10 registration fee.
The fees would go toward a state bicycle transportation improvement fund to pay for development and upkeep of bicycle lanes, bicycle paths and other projects.
Some bicyclists are willing to pay a little more in taxes but are opposed to the registration fee.
"I am not at all opposed to paying more in taxes to see more benefits to cyclists implemented in city planning and new development with fixing the roadways," said Andrew Alef, a bicyclist and employee at Bicycle Way of Life in Eugene.
Alef owns eight bicycles and doesn't want to pay for each one.
"If it were the case that I would have to pay to register each one of my bikes individually," he said. "That seems unfair to me because I can only ride one bike at a time."
Senate Bill 769 outlines several other restrictions that would be imposed if someone didn't register a bike, namely a $25 fine for failure to register. Cyclists would also be penalized if they don’t report a change of ownership or address.
A fee on Bicycling in Oregon... And pretty soon we'll have 2 pay a fee just 2 walk down the sidewalk...
2 get 2 the parks 2 Play... 2 Exercise.... And even 2 get 2 Work. "
No walking in Oregon anywhere with out a permit"!  Â
A Licensed permit must B cared around your neck at all times... "Or U will B FEED again"!The provisions of this section do not apply to fines imposed in justice and municipal courts under ORS 811.590, 814.485, 814.486, 814.534, 814.536, 814.600 or 830.990 (1) or section 5 or 6 of this 2013 Act.
So if you break the registration bicycle tax then all those proceeds go to Department of Revenue for deposit in the Criminal Fine Account.So bicyclists don't get the benny.
Most of my bikes never see the road, so which bikes get taxed. Does this include buying frames. I like taxing tires idea maybe classify tire taxes.
Come on 10 bucks that's nothing. To little money to even implement and anymore then that and 5 years olds aren't going to be getting their new bmx bike for christmas.
This taxes the most who don't have the money, or people that feel like they are double triple taxed already.
The wear and tear on the road that biker puts on the road in comparison to a car dosen't even factor. These tests have been done in comparison to semi-trucks and large vehicles on the free way, most of the damage is done by heavy vehicles not small compact cars or then say a bicyclist that weighs 175lbs. Same with trails and mtb vs horse.
Plus the cost of bikes is skyrocketing, bicycle tires are so expensive now! We don't want to discourage riders. Transportation/production costs of these goods is so expensive. Petroleum, aluminum and titanium are all used by cars and airplanes companies causing producers to disproportionately up their prices so when the small time bicycle company wants to make a bike it costs an arm and a leg. So what do we do? Go to China for all our bike production. Look at the footprint of that. You better ride the dam thing to make up for that. So what do we tell are local frame builders oh thats going to cost the consumer up and beyond what it cost you. Why do we think we have so many breweries popping up in oregon, no tax!
The complexity is to high, the value is too low and the target is off to incur this.
Registration is the first step to confiscation. Â That's right! Â The government is coming for your bicycles and is going to put all of the bicycle riders in government gulags where they will toil like slaves for the Chinese in their polystyrene factories. Â And nobody except the police and military should have more than 10 speeds on a bicycle. Â Only a total crackpot would ever need more than 10 speeds.
If this will get the whiny warriors against bikes to stop whining and increase bicycle infrastructure to a significant degree, sure. But I imagine it will cost as much to implement as it brings in.
Yes, pay the fee. Register the bike.
This bill will never pass. How would they reinforce it? Cops pulling every cyclist over to check registration? Not gonna happen.
Home owners are given tax breaks for energy-efficient upgrades to their homes. Maybe it should be quite the opposite; cyclists given tax breaks for pollution-reduction!
Again folks please resist our government's urges to find new ways of taxing us! This tax would be completely biased against the poor- why not ask our city council WHY they give tax exemptions to BIG developers (who indeed put wear and tear on our roads)!! Please do not even encourage our law makers to enact such ridiculous levies. Oh and yeah I get it- so many of you have an irrational hate against bike riders- clouding your rational judgement centers in your brains. Okay back to our regularly scheduled programs.................
Hey if Off road vehicles have to pay I think its a great idea. But it should be $20 per year and some sort of liabilty insurance should be required.
"If it were the case that I would have to pay to register each one of my bikes individually," he said. "That seems unfair to me because I can only ride one bike at a time."
If a person has 5 cars they have to register them all and carry insurance on them if they want to drive them - but they cannot drive them all at one time either.
This is situation is going to come up more and more with public services we do not really think about where the funds come from to have that path - the park -Â
Oregon is taking a big hit with loss of Federal Timber Funds - Austerity is what it is called and this is just the start. Nation wide cities are going through situations that funding has dried up and gone away.Â
Just wait until the "re certification" for section 8 housing - food stamps - disability - most all federal funded programs will be cut as well - this is not really going get better it will hurt in many ways a $10 fee to up keep bike paths should not even be a issue - if it is not paid the bike paths will not longer be there - that is the choice.
I dont see why not. They use our roads, have bicycle-specific traffic lights and lanes. These require upkeep, so why shouldnt they be required to chip in? Really, what is $10.00? If you can afford 8 bikes, you can afford the $10.00 each.
@EUGENE541 AMEN! That's exactly what I posted on another page. I have to pay to use the roads, then so can they! They want to whine about having all these rights to the roads, then pay to use them like everyone else!
@ntk0716Â @EUGENE541 I drive and bike. I pay to use the roads in every way anyone else does. In fact, more bicycles mean less traffic for drivers and longer lasting roads. Roads are paid for with a variety of taxes of which anyone who pays taxes pays. We should be doing everything to encourage bike riding- it's good for everyone, drivers included.
@EUGENE541Â yes, yes they can well put.
NO! Just plain NO!
This is just an end run to get more money from the taxpayer for these less that stellar (dis-honest) lawmakers so they can continue the status quo of spend, spend and spend some more!Â
How about you guys actually work for those who elected you for a change? How about you curb your spending, and be frugal with the money you do have, because its not your money! How about you lawmakers take an across the board 15% pay cut? That wouldn't make a big dent in the budget, but it would go a long way in "character." Some thing you people (lawmakers) are in much need of!
@Postone No this is local government trying to figure out how to replace Federal Timber Funds that will no longer be available for use on infrastructure such as bike paths and roads - this is the Austerity move that is slowly taking place - it is happening - look up some of the news in Europe and what is happening there - same is starting now and it will get worse. The loss of the Timber funds will hurt deeply on all of our public type services that the public takes for granted - Not that our local elected are being fair in the decision - maybe they will try to protect certain funding for their pets projects and that should be watched also. I am just saying this is the start of all sorts of New Fees for the move of Austerity - it is starting and will get worse.
Yeah, not gona happen. I've never owned less than 3 bikes at once. Right now I have 3 roadworthy bikes and 2 more (3 if you count my girlfriend's) project bikes, Plus I own an SUV. Just no.
I am absolutely for MailMover's statements. Â "Maybe, what needs to happen is for the Law Enforcement folks to focus every so often on enforcing the traffic laws both cars and cyclists" Â Just win, my friend. Â "Did you know that hanging a right in front of a bicyclist is against the law?" yes I did. A bicycle is a 'Vehicle' by Oregon law, and therefore has to abide by the same traffic laws when on the street. THIS INCLUDES THE USE OF HEAD LIGHTS AND TAIL LIGHTS AT NIGHT!! A car made a right infront of me and I did hit its quarter, and the driver had the gaul to say "I used my signal, you're supposed to let me go" Â -- BS! Like a CAR, It must yield to the bike if it's in the right lane -- Or any lane. I now keep a cyclists manual on me at all times when I'm on the street for idiots like that.
Also, because of the ruling that a bicycle is a 'Vehicle' by Oregon law. my last bike had a full turn signal set as well. That was stolen with that bike, and it's $80 for a new kit (and I seldom ride on the road anymore, so I won't replace it until I do)
@Morgfarm1 I think you had better brush up on equipment laws, and rules of the road. I do agree that there needs to be more enforcement of the traffic laws for both cars and bikes, but with radar the police don't move around as much and miss lots by not being on patrol. It is not ever a good idea to try to impose your right if you are on a bicycle and your adversary is in a 5000 lb vehicle. Good luck and I agree, no more taxes. You don't need electric turn signals on your bike, just use your arm signals and pray that someone isn't texting or reading or talking on their cell phone.
Really? Â I own a Pick Up and 3 Bicycles. Â So, I need to pay 4 times to use the same road? Â Why is there so much hate towards those of us who ride a bike for exercise and charity? Â Yes, I agree that there are a large number of bicycle riders who care less about laws and such, but there are an equal amount out there that go out of their way to obey all traffic laws. I commute the 1.5 miles to work by bike in the summer and when the weather cooperates... Maybe I should fire up that Pick Up more often and drive it...
Maybe, what needs to happen is for the Law Enforcement folks to focus every so often on enforcing the traffic laws both cars and cyclists. Â Did you know that hanging a right in front of a bicyclist is against the law? Â I was on 18th doing 25 on my bike *yes I can* and almost t boned someone who turned in front of me.... Â I see it from the other side of the coin as well. Â
@MailMover Well, everyone else that uses the road pays per vehicle. Some people have 3, 4, 5 cars and they have to register each and every one that uses the road so..................
@MailMover Bicycles as a general rule don't travel fast enough for radar speed violations, and therefore you will not see too much enforcement of laws outside of the speeding part. I think you are doing good by riding to work, not only are you saving gas, but you are getting exercise, two good things. I agree no more taxes until everything is under control and Government is more on par with the private sector on salaries, retirement benefits, medical benefits, family leave, vacation time, sick time, personal days, etc. etc. I could go on and on about the disparities, but that won't change with Progressives in office.
Yes they should. I paid a fee when I was only five. And that was in 1954. If they whin. Well then that is all they all whiners....!!Â
As much as I find many bike riders to be rude and arrogant, I will not stand idly by while the state adds one more layer of beauracracy to our existance as citizens. Today it's bikes, tomorrow it's the shoes of the pedestrians. Think that sounds silly? Thirty years ago you would have been laughed out of the room if you said the state was going to charge to park on the side of the road.
@OregonOrator I paid a fee as a five year old in 1954. I see no reason why folks should not pay their fair share. Just sayin'.....
@Eileen Spenger Fogerty I'm sure there were exceptions - they were very far and few between. There were no fees to stop anywhere on the coast until well into the 1980s. Now they charge to park virtually everywhere there's a spot worth parking. There were no fees to park at Fernridge until the 1990s. There no fees to park at trailheads, the list goes on and on.
Mow we have to pay for multi-lingual interpretive signs and overpaid and underworked parking lot rangers to tell you to put a dog on a leash and to put that cigarette out. That's not a share I like paying.
The road system at present is subsidized by local, state and federal general fund dollars. Automobile drivers do not come close to paying their fair share for their use of our transportation infrastructure system and services. Bicycle and pedestrian commuters already subsidize auto users. Why penalize those who are not running up the deficit? A better suggestion would be taxing auto users at full cost.
You are kidding, right.!
Been commuting by bike to work in Eugene for 40 years (8 mile round trip). I don't have a drivers license, never have. My opinion on this subject is based on observations from my bike over 4 decades. Anyone who operates a vehicle of any kind on the streets, and who could potentially cause harm to another citizen if they don't operate this vehicle correctly, should be licensed and regulated. Bikes included. Anyone too young to ride in the road would be exempt. Lower fees for a bikes. A person should demonstrate that they can handle a bike safely and know the rules of the road. It has become more dangerous the last 20 years in Eugene to be a bike rider. I witnessed a man downtown riding a bike criss-crossing lanes and changing directions, ignoring people, cars, oblivious! Mind you, I only ride a bike. I want it to be a safe way to travel.
Yeah, and let's have a shoe tax to pay for sidewalks. Why should my highway tax money pay for those pesky pedestrians a place to walk? Walkers are moochers too. Â
@umpqua rafter You see there is almost a valid argument for everything, rafter has a point. No new taxes anywhere.
I personnally think it,s stupid yes they use r roads but their,s no gas involved in bikes,if they want people 2 register thier bikes Then what about registering mopeds,gocarts,4wheelers,
@firefighter3Â As far as I know, you do have to register ATVs of all breeds for public use. Mopeds and cars, i'm not so sure of though.
@Morgfarm1 @firefighter3 On ATV's there is a two year recreational sticker. There is a registration process, but no fee or license for that. There are some rider restrictions coming in to play now and in the coming years. I think Mopeds are the same as motorcycles.
@firefighter3Â Go carts and 4 wheelers can't go on the road. Mopeds that go on the road are already registered.
great, now if this passes I can hardly wait until my 11 year old will be getting pulled over by the cops to check if his dirt bike is registered...
@Bender Is your 11 year-old riding his dirt bike on public roads?
OK...I'll support this if they use the money to enforce a new law outlawing overweight men and women from wearing bicycle pants....oh the horror!
@flor3nc3
Yes, its vicarious nudity and I dislike seeing "IT" at the coffee shop line.
Put some stinkin clothes on already.Â
We should just ban bikes. Â Why tax them and then arrest them?
Hard to believe it's a republican.  Sounds like a democrat gun bill.Â
I am still unsure why this legislative session we feel a need to make law abiding citizens criminals. Â Apparently we don't have enough criminals.Â
A government enforced fee or fine is a government tax. The government needs to get off the taxpayers titty. Less government = more freedom.
@TySteeleNEWS @KVALnews Umm... no. I mean, of course not!!!
@web_angel81 @KVALnews - yea, I have a hard time seeing that one getting passed...
@TySteeleNEWS @KVALnews well, it confuses me, and HOW will they keep it reinforced? I say goof luck"
@TySteeleNEWS @KVALnews that's true. it will be interesting to see how that will work out!
@web_angel81 @kvalnews - even if they can't reinforce a bike registration fee, it would still be another revenue source.
@TySteeleNEWS CLEARLY someone didn't watch the morning show. In Oregon: it's on a bus!
Use your head folks -- this is a tax that will end up taxing mainly the poor- it is time to stop giving entitlements such as property tax waivers to big business- please people resist the government's urges to tax us more!Â
It seems that bicyclists want everyone but themselves to pay for their infrastructure. I think that it is about time they start to pick up some of the tab themselves.
They should have to license their bicycles just like we have to license our autos
There is no "free ride" anymore. If bikes use the infrastructure built from road funds, then yes, they should pay a modest amount. Even a lifetime bike fee of $10.00 would help some.