Cugel wrote:Oldjohnw wrote:I suspect some are upset because they think that, since you don't need to visit a garage forecourt with a bike, bikes cost nothing to run. They therefore think that this MP - and anyone else claiming bike mileage - is having a laugh and getting money for nothing. Taking the liquid waste outflow. They do not take this seriously.
I seem to remember that there was also an allowance for using a horse.
I knew a bloke who worked in Kendal DSS office (as it was then called) who walked to and from a week's official course in Newcastle. The rascals wouldn't pay him a penny for even one of his miles walking, despite the wear on boot and sock! Nor would they pay for his overnight tenting.
Cugel
I think the way to look at it is as charging. I'm self-employed so I
charge 45p per mile to my clients (as do other people). That's not for my expenses, that's for the time and inconvenience. If I do part of the journey by bike (hard work, wet, cold, dangerous) I charge £5.00 per mile (obviously). But then I let them off and only charge the car mileage rate.
You can test this out with a taxi driver: offer him just his expenses and see what he says.