Two letters have been published in the Belfast Telegraph recently on the subject of forcing cyclists to pay “road tax“ like other road users. There is a commonly held (but entirely wrong) view that since cyclists don’t pay this tax they somehow have a reduced right to use the roads compared to car drivers.
I invite you to now take a few minutes to read the letters and the accompanying online comments.
Cyclists should have to pay road taxes
Tricia, CarryduffShould cyclists pay road tax? In my opinion they should! Every day I journey to work and back home again and I am sure to encounter cyclists who have total disregard for the road and others who use it.
Biking To Work has a copy of the letter, in case the Belfast Telegraph link is down.
A second letter, from a cyclist’s point of view, was published a few days later in response to the first:
Move over motorists, we cyclists also have rights on our streets
S. LoftusIf we cyclists were to pay, would people like your correspondent treat all cyclists on the roads as equal, giving us the same room and respect that they expect from every other road user? Somehow, I don’t think it would.
Somewhat unfortunately, the first letter suffers from a belligerent tone, contains a number of misunderstandings and serves mainly to highlight the author’s selfishness and ignorance of cyclists’ issues. I made several attempts to reply to all the problems I have with it, but try as I might I couldn’t keep within the 1,000 character comment limit.
I have too much to say.
I’d like to return to examine (pick apart, correct) Tricia’s letter in more detail in later posts, but until I get around to that I’ve settled for responding as follows (you can read this online on the Belfast Telegraph site too):
All but the last paragraph of your letter reads as an ill-informed, childish whine about having to share your precious roads.
You paint yourself as a selfish, inconsiderate and dangerous driver who is ignorant of the issues faced by cyclists traveling on busy roads and of the benefits cycling can bring to the individual and society as a whole. I suggest you educate yourself by cycling to Belfast a few mornings before commenting further on something you clearly know little about.
“road tax” is an environmental tax that cycles are exempt from. Do you also think it’s unfair that electric vehicles pay no road tax? Or that large cars and lorries pay more? What of passengers on public transport?
I agree though that better training for cyclists and motorists is required, for everyone’s safety, and that insurance protection should be in place. Mandatory insurance for individual cyclists would be a backward step; some kind of Norwegian style blanket scheme would be a better solution.
Looking past the tone and the errors, Tricia does in fact raise a number of valid questions. Is it fair that cyclists don’t pay Vehicle Excise Duty but still get to use the roads? Should a system of mandatory testing, licensing and insurance be put in place for cyclists? What form should it take?
For the record, I believe:
- “road tax” or VED is irrelevant to cyclists
- Cyclists have an equal right to the road and it’s entirely fair that this is the case.
- Cyclists are subject to the same basic rules as other vehicles, including not cycling on pavements.
- Many cyclists need better training on how to share busy roads with motorists, and vice-versa.
- A blanket insurance scheme for cyclists would be a progressive step.
- Mandatory testing, licensing and individual insurance would be regressive steps.
What’s your take on these often contentious subjects? Leave your thoughts in the comments below!
Gutted, they didn’t print my response :O(
It was a lot more constructive than some of them on there (NOT!)
Feel free to post your response here.
Mine was something along the offensive line of “I think you’ve forgot to pay your thicko tax this year”
Although a cyclist I do not live in Belfast but in England. I would willingly pay road tax if it gave me more rights. I am 74 years of age and use a cycle to shop as I enjoy it (but not in the rain) and to save petrol and the planet for my grandchildren. I would ask motorists to stick to speed limits, most drive too fast and pass too close. BUT MAINLY I think the majority of motorists don’t want to kill or injure me and are fair.
I agree Christine, most motorists aren’t actually out to get you and will happily (more or less) share the road with cyclists. But there are some that find this unthinkable and articles like this one in the Telegraph bring that type out in droves. I think it’s necessary to at least try to educate some of them!
You say you would pay a tax if if gave you more rights, but I’d ask you what extra rights would you like? You already have the right to ride your bike on the public road system and, unlike motorists, it is a right not a privilege that has to be earned by passing a test and maintaining a clean license.
While most motorists are OK, it only takes one maniac to kill a cyclist, and there more than enough idiots out there.
I think we should be pressing for:
a) mandatory custodial sentences and life bans for motorists who kill, with additional custodial sentences for driving whilst banned; driving without insurance; no MoT, vehicle unfit; Driving under the influence.
b) Mandatory and enforced minimum passing distance. i.e. the Highway Code clarified and made mandatory
Rule 163
Overtake only when it is safe and legal to do so. You should ….give motorcyclists, cyclists and horse riders at least as much room as you would when overtaking a car (see Rules 211-215)
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/TravelAndTransport/Highwaycode/DG_070314
c) A mandatory blanket 20 mph speed-limit in towns
d) An integrated network of cycle paths that are properly surfaced to a high standard [no washboard surfaces], maintained and free of pedestrians
e) Secure parking
f) Presumption of guilt against the motorist – as in Denmark & Holland
g) Tougher prosecution of cyclists who RLJ; ride on the pavement, wrong way; no lights & etc.
h) All on-road cycle lanes to be abolished as dangerous, because they are hazardous to cyclists and encourage dangerous close passing.
The effect of cycle lanes on the proximity between motor traffic and cycle traffic Parkin & Meyers
http://digitalcommons.bolton.ac.uk/ce_journalspr/6/
The Effect of Cycle Lanes on Cyclists’ Road Space – Pete Owens
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/pete.meg/wcc/report/cycle-lanes.pdf
Many motorists do pass too close and I don’t think that it’s because they don’t like us or that we don’t pay road tax. I think that it’s more likely that the road is too narrow in many places or the motorists think that driving close is OK as long as they don’t hit us.
More awareness programs on public media might be more beneficial in the long-term.