Cyclists don't "pay their way" - reposte

[Tangled Metal]

I think the point is nobody who uses the roads pay for it directly. It is all paid for indirectly by the taxation pot we all pay into according to financial circumstances and liabilities under taxation law. VED is an excise duty not a road tax in that it is an ecise payment for use of a fossil fuel based initiall on cost then carbon emissions then value on a certain date IIRC. IT is not related to actual road use but use of an internal combustion engined vehicle. No doubt something similar will apply ot EVs in due course.

It would be fun to see a pay per mile road tax to come in where you pay according to wear and tear on the road that your mode of transportation causes. That of course would not stop the VED being applies as that is something different. So DM reading motorists will get stung twice when they use their vehicles. That would make me chuckle for days.

We know roads are paid for out of general taxation. So do the anti cyclists. Don't waste your time talking to people who don't and won't listen. As Spock used to say in Star Trek "illogical Captain". You're dealing with irrational behaviour. That's why some politicians are really successful- just tell people what they want to hear. I can predict the next slogan "Make Motoring Great Again". Or "Drive Baby Drive".

My very point upthread about being pointless to replly. Glad we agree, although kudos on the star trek reference.
(Let's see if you got the reference in my last sentence!)

[cyclop]

"I,ve paid twice the road tax you have pal" !(I,m 72) i.e.50yrs worth

[jgurney]

cyclists ..... should be "taxed like all other road users"

Absurd. Pedestrians are by far the most numerous group of road users, and there is no tax upon being one

[Diatom]

You might be interested in the Guardian article at

https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyl ... ront-of-me

…especially where the police and crime commissioner for Surrey says, “… he talked about how terrible our cycling infrastructure is. I know it’s not great but it would never be a political priority for me to give cyclists better infrastructure, particularly when they don’t contribute in vehicle taxes.”

Some polite repostes needed here.

[Pete Owens]

"I'm not anti-cyclist I'm anti ..." reels off standard list of anti-cyclist prejudices.

Just like when someone starts out with "I'm not a racist, but..." you know you are listening to a racist.

[Diatom]

It is interesting that even the Police and Crime Commissioner for Surrey is unaware of how roads are funded. Perhaps an information campaign would help raise public awareness.