Road Tax for Electric Bikes ?

[gnvqsos]

I can see no logical reason for not taxing electric bikes,as it is clear many ride them without pedalling.They contribute to the greenhouse effect as they consume electricity generated by burning gas,coal and other combustibles.I would also advocate insurance for all bicycles used on then road,and a registration system,with each rider wearing something round their neck for scanning purposes.Finally cyclists may not cause material damage to roads(although some of the heavier pedallers like Boris may disagree),they benefit from road signage and other street furniture,and can expect free treatment if knocked off from an overburdened NHS.The tax could be levied by charging a higher rate of VAT on cycling accessories like bells,helmets and locks ie an indirect tax collected by retailers.I do appreciate the occasional zealot will oppose these progressive views,much as the Luddites resisted the mechanisation of lace-making in Knots and Liecester,but the measure will earn cyclist the admiration of the motorist-most motorists rightly see the cyclistb as a free-loader.

I used to oppose the tax advocated but sense there are simply too many bikes on the road,causing a great deal of congestion.Incidentally I would not apply a congestion charge to all bikes,just those with batteries.

[jezer]

Ha ha, you had me going there for a moment

[Cyril Haearn]

Might be a good idea
E-bikes are already much more expensive than real bikes

[reohn2]

I propose a 500.... .....no let's make 5000% tax levy on beans on toast for anyone arriving at a cafe on a ordinary bike,that should cost more than a penny farting.

[gnvqsos]

I propose a 500.... .....no let's make 5000% tax levy on beans on toast for anyone arriving at a cafe on a ordinary bike,that should cost more than a penny farting.

Are you capable of doing the maths on that one?

Remember that you heard it here first-it will be Hammond's chance to get his own back on BJohnson and AMitchell

[reohn2]

I propose a 500.... .....no let's make 5000% tax levy on beans on toast for anyone arriving at a cafe on a ordinary bike,that should cost more than a penny farting.

Are you capable of doing the maths on that one?

Better than you're capable of quoting me

Remember that you heard it here first-it will be Hammond's chance to get his own back on BJohnson and AMitchell

I've always admired someone who can play two keyboards at the same time

[rjb]

I propose a 500.... .....no let's make 5000% tax levy on beans on toast for anyone arriving at a cafe on a ordinary bike,that should cost more than a penny farting.

Should reduce unemployment having to employ all those bean counters.

[reohn2]

I propose a 500.... .....no let's make 5000% tax levy on beans on toast for anyone arriving at a cafe on a ordinary bike,that should cost more than a penny farting.

Should reduce unemployment having to employ all those bean counters.

And think of the abacus sales

[Cunobelin]

I can see no logical reason for not taxing pedestrians,as it is clear many pass wind, which is partially due to all those beans on toast, but methane is a “greenhouse gas”.They keep rhemselves warm, cool, fed and water sand in doing so contribute to the greenhouse effect as they consume electricity generated by burning gas,coal and other combustibles.I would also advocate insurance for all pedestrians leaving their houses,and a registration system,with each rider wearing something round their neck for scanning purposes.Finally pedestrians may not cause material damage to roads(although some of the heavier footed like Boris may disagree),they benefit from road signage and other street furniture,and can expect free treatment if knocked off from an overburdened NHS.The tax could be levied by charging a higher rate of VAT on pedstrisn accessories like food, clothing, housing ie an indirect tax collected by retailers.I do appreciate the occasional zealot will oppose these progressive views,much as the Luddites resisted the mechanisation of lace-making in Knots and Liecester,but the measure will earn pedestrians the admiration of the motorist-most motorists rightly see the pedestrians as a free-loader.

I used to oppose the tax advocated but sense there are simply too many pedestrianson the road,causing a great deal of congestion.Incidentally I would not apply a congestion charge on pedestrisns

[Cunobelin]

.... and tax on babies

Using all those resources to be born, fed, and kept safe... a massive burden on the NHS

Lying their gurgling, producing smelly bowel movements then relying on others to clear it alall up, this is costing the NHS and the little parasites are not contributing anything back

Appallling little freeloaders

[Cunobelin]

A more reasoned reply..

I can see no logical reason for not taxing electric bikes,as it is clear many ride them without pedalling.

No longer, a new Electric bike must have pedal assistance 2015..... so the first sentence rather undermines the argument

They contribute to the greenhouse effect as they consume electricity generated by burning gas,coal and other combustibles.

The present taxation for motor vehicles accounts for this and electric bicycles (along with electric cars are exempt because they are in Group A0 ..... is it just bicycles you wish to tax, or will this tax also be applied to all the exempt electric vehicles, all of which use more of these sources than an electrical bicycle

I would also advocate insurance for all bicycles used on then road,and a registration system,with each rider wearing something round their neck for scanning purposes.

Given the problem with the current system with police estimating that some 10% of vehicles are uninsured, would you advocate the same system for ALL road users, or is this again just about cyclists?

Finally cyclists may not cause material damage to roads(although some of the heavier pedallers like Boris may disagree),they benefit from road signage and other street furniture,and can expect free treatment if knocked off from an overburdened NHS.

(Leaving aside the reality that the NHS is paid from teh general taxation pool which everyone contributes to already)

As does everyone who walks outside their door. Again it also brings up teh question of all teh drivers who are at present exempt .... again would you support these "taxes" on the disabled, electric vehicle users with by your measure also don't pay enough, or is it simply about cyclists

The tax could be levied by charging a higher rate of VAT on cycling accessories like bells,helmets and locks ie an indirect tax collected by retailers.

Why only on cyclists as above there are some 7 million exempt drivers ... are you going to put additional taxes on them, or again just cyclists?

I do appreciate the occasional zealot will oppose these progressive views,much as the Luddites resisted the mechanisation of lace-making in Knots and Liecester,but the measure will earn cyclist the admiration of the motorist-most motorists rightly see the cyclistb as a free-loader.

I love the "agree or you are a zealot" attempt to prevent discussion...... again why are cyclists "freeloaders" yet the millions of exempt motorists in teh same situation are not?

Are all these motorists also "freeloaders" after all by your standards, the disabled and electric vehicle users will earn the admiration of the motorist-most motorists rightly see them as a free-loader.

I used to oppose the tax advocated but sense there are simply too many bikes on the road,causing a great deal of congestion.Incidentally I would not apply a congestion charge to all bikes,just those with batteries.

Again. the reality would beg to differ ..... most congestion is caused by vehicular traffic, again would you support these moves against all vehicles, odr again is this simply about bicycle and the fact there are too many vehicles on the road is acceptable?





IT would be interesting if these points could be clarified

[Cyril Haearn]

Energy is too cheap, electricity should cost much more

[gnvqsos]

I can see no logical reason for not taxing pedestrians,as it is clear many pass wind, which is partially due to all those beans on toast, but methane is a “greenhouse gas”.They keep rhemselves warm, cool, fed and water sand in doing so contribute to the greenhouse effect as they consume electricity generated by burning gas,coal and other combustibles.I would also advocate insurance for all pedestrians leaving their houses,and a registration system,with each rider wearing something round their neck for scanning purposes.Finally pedestrians may not cause material damage to roads(although some of the heavier footed like Boris may disagree),they benefit from road signage and other street furniture,and can expect free treatment if knocked off from an overburdened NHS.The tax could be levied by charging a higher rate of VAT on pedstrisn accessories like food, clothing, housing ie an indirect tax collected by retailers.I do appreciate the occasional zealot will oppose these progressive views,much as the Luddites resisted the mechanisation of lace-making in Knots and Liecester,but the measure will earn pedestrians the admiration of the motorist-most motorists rightly see the pedestrians as a free-loader.

I used to oppose the tax advocated but sense there are simply too many pedestrianson the road,causing a great deal of congestion.Incidentally I would not apply a congestion charge on pedestrisns

At last a consensus is emerging
I like a lot of your ideas

[Cunobelin]

I always find it so sad that despite all of History's lessons that we haven't advanced when it comes to the roads.

Winston Churchill stated in the late 1930's discussion on "Road Tax" that the issue was that there would be some individuals who claimed "ownership of the roads" that they thought they were paying for.

Unfortunately as with the luddites these antiquated dinosaurs still exist.


It is a mark of society that everyone ays taxes, and that many of these are paid by choice. You don't pay tobacco tax if you don't smoke, or the alcohol levy if you don't drink, and you don't pay VED if you don't drive a polluting vehicle

However all these taxes go into a central pool and all the "needs" of society met from this fund. That includes road signage, maintenance and so on... any claim otherwise is just ill informed imagination...... we all pay our share of the cost.

The fact that any particular group should pay more than that share is bizarre.

[Cyril Haearn]

I like paying taxes

Plenty of taxes should control behavior, so one may choose not to pay them