Best way to travel 5 miles to a train station?

Not particularly. The current shared use cycle routes [1] are fine for me.

They aren't done for cyclists, they are done to try to prevent cagers from
thinking about cyclists. Most are less use than a chocolate teapot.

That's why drivers pay for their own safety training, licensing and
enforcement. I paid for mine, why can't you pay for yours?

So the next time you take that last parking space, the benefit includes you
because I came by bike instead of my car and left that space clear.

The next time you just make it through the traffic lights, the benefit is
there because I left my car in the garage instead of being in the queue in
front of you.

When you are old and decrepit through lack of exercise it will be the
cyclists of this world who are the ones fit enough to be working to pay the
taxes that keep the country running.

Cyclists are a net financial benefit to those who don't cycle, expecially if
the cyclists are also car owners.

...d

 

No. That's not what cyclists want, that's what motorists want - that's
why they keep building all those motorways that cyclists aren't allowed
to use, and why they build these cycle tracks that aren't fit for a bike
to use but they don't care "as long as it gets the fuckers off /our/ roads".

That will cost money. Rebuilding junctions and traffic

....which all comes out of general taxation, which is paid for by
everyone. In other words, cyclists subsidise motorways.

Why should cyclists pay for benefits that don't include them?

Especially when you lot boast about

This one irritates me too - I am most definitely not a high earner.

d.

 

David Martin wrote

Yebbut I am old and decrepit.

I can assure you that every last penny you pay in taxes to support the
aged and infirm is considered by the likes of me to be nowhere near
enough.

 

And if someone from uk.transport could post a rational and
enthusiastic description of why they troll, then that would help
everyone out as well.

Ambrose
<grinning, ducking and really running fast>

 

No, he asked you how he could opt out of paying tax after you claimed he had
opted out.

I suppose your arguement would run something along the lines of ' by not
earning ten times my current salary I am opting out of paying a large chunk
of income tax'.

...d

 

No, I was told that I didn't pay tax, only if that is the case I seem to
have a rather large discrepancy in what I earn per month and what I
receive into my account. I must have missed something

Pay more tax than rent? So what, is this some kind of p-ing contest?
(And yes, actually, I'll predict your response, I do too.)

 

Oh, I don't know - if they persuade more people to get out of their cars
then I might even have an excuse to treat myself to a celebratory lentil
feast.

d.

 

More of an almost professional/amateurs relationship.

 

65mph average speed with a good percentage of urban London roads on the
route, even with gridlock? You need a reality check.

Tony

 

I was told I didn't pay tax, only if that's the case someone's taking a
large lump of cash from me in between my employer and my bank. So I must
have missed some form or other.

Paying more tax than rent? So what. (And yes, before you ask (I'll
predict your response), I do. Much.)

 

I guess it's people countering the 'you only cycle cause you're poor'
mentality. It bears some relevance in that it's a tiny bit of evidence
that people may cycle because it's more convenient and more sensible
for the journeys they want to make. I guess when people have said it's
more convenient and makes more sense a few times without being
believed, then they try and bring other factors in to convince people
instead of giving up.

A

 

My point is that as a car driver and a cyclist, I pay VED. The point
was made that cyclists do not pay VED. Which is incorrect.

 

I dunno, since they put a 20mph limit in Richmond Park there are
hundreds of people powered vehicles which could be liable.

 

He certainly does need a reality check if he thinks Haywards Heath is 65
miles from London. Unless he's taking the scenic route.

d.

 

You want to change the law to obligate cyclists to have all of these
things. Go right ahead, I might even support you on some (or maybe even
all) of it.

If it meant being taken more seriously by people being deliberately
obstructive it might even be worth it.

Fine. Change the system so I can apparently pay for it explicitly.
Meanwhile, I just content myself that I am paying for it, although not
as obviously as you seem to want.

Well then, don't be surprised when people stop reacting to your trolls
and give up trying to open your eyes.

Hypothecation means the revenues from specific taxation being earmarked
for specific causes, e.g. the original Road Fund Licence or saying we'll
put 1% on income tax to improve education.

Hint: We don't have it in this country. Certainly not for the roads.

 

Blimey, you've written something I agree with :-D

 

I pay taxes. I paid for my bike. What else do I need to pay to be
entitled to ride my bike?

That makes two of us.

d.

 

So *you* want the infrastructure changed. That will cost money. You pay
for it.

 

I don't think you are listening. Let me say it again. The facilities
are paid for out of general taxation. Cyclists pay as much income,
council, value added and other taxes as anyone else. They therefore
contribute just as much as you and anyone else to the cost of providing
those facilities.

You seem to be continuing to labour under the misunderstanding that it
all comes from Vehicle Excise Duty. That's just a tax the Government
chooses to levy, like income tax, council tax, tax on cigarettes and
alcohol, to go into the general pool for everything from hospitals to
social services. Its nothing to do with the roads budget.

Tony

 

Bzzzt.

Incorrect answer. Try again please.

Cyclists don't pay fuel tax to enable their machines to run, correct.
Cyclists don't pay VED when buying their machines, correct.

But that's not the point. Even if you think it is. Your assumption is
wrong and there's not much we can do about that if you're not prepared
to listen to the many words being written in reply to you today.