And look at all the expensive infrastructure that is built for push bike riders, dedicated cycle paths with bridges (some of them quite large), lane extensions on roads, extra push buttons and lanterns at traffic signals (which includes extra wiring and upgraded program for controller) etc. etc. Yet not a cent paid for bike rego, no wonder the roads are in such a poor condition when our car rego gets spent on bikes.
ya know... I usually try to avoid replying to these kinds of comments. Mainly because of the way they usually flare up into a "bikes v's cars" holy war thing.
I've ridden bikes my entire life. Driven cars and 4wd's since I was old enough to legally. (52yo now) So I can see both sides of the story here.
But the constant misconception from the anti cyclist crowd that only those
with cars are contributing to road upkeep (from rego, licensing and fuel etc) is just plain wrong.
1. Road construction is paid for out of
general taxation. We
all fund the roads, even those who only ever walk. Besides, rego revenue falls far short of the amount spent on roads, and is swallowed up by administration fees and third party insurance.
But just like we all pay for schools (whether we have kids or not), we all pay for hospitals (whether we need them or not), we all pay one way or another for road and cycle paths maintenance. In most cases, cyclists are also car owners who leave their cars at home to commute to work on their bikes.
2. Local road repairs are paid for by councils – your rates are subsidising people who drive through your suburb (the bludgers!).
3. Cars are charged by weight and the damage they do. In NSW, a 1.51-tonne car costs $459 to register and a 950-kilogram vehicle, $243; on that sliding scale, what might the owner of a 10-kilogram bicycle pay?
The second theory that drive me batShit crazy is regards registration plates being used for law enforcement: “I could report the number of a cyclist breaking the road rules, and they'd get a fine.”
Really... this idea fails in so many areas it's hard to know where to start. Have you ever noted the number of a car that breaks the law, (runs a red light, doesn't indicate, drives while on the phone) and phoned it in to the police? They will sigh and tell you there's nothing they can do.
But I'm a fair man... I'm happy to have bicycle license, pay rego, insurance, green slip and everything else the bike haters demand... but see... then I'd be classed as an official road user and be legally required to use the road (not the cycle paths). And I'd also be required to stay in the centre of the most left hand lane.
Bet that'd be fun during rush hour when I'm commuting to work...
