The Age: Letters

Already send out a APB for letter writers on this illogical fluff. Full text of letter:

The Age Letters - Make cyclists contribute (10/1/08)

IS IT fair that cyclists get to use our vast road system at no cost to themselves? As a car driver, I strongly object to the fact that I must pay an annual vehicle registration fee in order to use the road system, while cyclists pay nothing.

It is my money, and that of countless other car owners, in the form of said registration fees that pay for the upkeep of the road system, use of which is taken for granted by cyclists. Should they not also be made to register their bikes annually and contribute to such costs? Surely that is reasonable and fair.

Leslie-John Newman, Newport

***

Ok then, here's some links to get started:

Facts to reference:
http://www.cyclingpromotion.com.au/content/category/3/35/147/

Cycling Myths Debunked, part II (US perspective)
http://www.teamestrogen.com/articles/articles_myth2.asp

Especially this one: Bicycles belong on the road, registration free
http://www.cyclingpromotion.com.au/content/view/213/147/

Letter Writing Guide:
http://www.woj.com.au/letter-writing-guide

The Age:
[email hidden]
Fax: +61 (0)3 96012414
Snailmail: 250 Spencer Street, Melbourne 3000

phillip brown said:

Another dope gets his letter published

http://www.theage.com.au/news/letters/commuters-back-to-compromise/20...

3rd one down

I was going to reply with

"Dear Sir

I had expected to take some considerable time pointing out the flaws
in the argument made by Leslie-John Newman of Newport, but found it
could be easily done in four words

He is an idiot.

Yours etc..."

but I don't think they would publish it

phillip brown

FWIW - 2007-2008 budget for revenue from all victorian vehicle
registration fees - $779.1M out of total revenue of $34.269B of which
$16B is from commonwealth grants.

source http://www.budget.vic.gov.au/CA2572B00081B35D/WebObj/BP4Chpt3/$File/BP4Chpt3.pdf

also

"Fines and regulatory fees revenue is expected to increase by 6.2 per
cent to $843 million
in 2007-08, compared with the 2006-07 revised estimate. This reflects
several factors
including the re-establishment of the Western Ring Road camera
network,
commencement of the Hume Freeway Point to Point camera system,
completion of the
roll-out of the red light speed camera network and the annual
indexation of fees and
charges."

phillip brown

phillip brown said:

Another dope gets his letter published

http://www.theage.com.au/news/letters/commuters-back-to-compromise/2008/01/09/1199554738794.html?page=fullpage#contentSwap1

3rd one down

I was going to reply with

"Dear Sir

I had expected to take some considerable time pointing out the flaws
in the argument made by Leslie-John Newman of Newport, but found it
could be easily done in four words

He is an idiot.

Yours etc..."

but I don't think they would publish it

phillip brown

The registration idea is pure bulls---, it's been used as a smokescreen
against cyclists for years. Bicycles have minimal (not quite zero)
impact on the environment, do not destroy the roadway, or each other, at
suitably vast expense. Cars and trucks do all of the above, generally
the larger the vehicle the more damage resulting.
And how is it to be enforced? From age 18, when you can get a motor
licence. Age 16, when you can get a learner's? Or age 7? You have to laugh.
It's also double-dipping, as the vast majority of adult cyclists are
also existing licenced vehicle users, so this doesn't wash at all.
Cheers,
Ray

On Jan 10, 2:36 pm, cfsmtb <cfsmtb.32y...@no-

mx.forums.cyclingforums.com said:

Already send out a APB for letter writers on this illogical fluff. =>

Speaking of illogical (a classic euphemism for idiotic)...I assume
everyone needs knows about http://binthebikeban.org/ ?

cfsmtb said:

Already send out a APB for letter writers on this illogical fluff. Full
text of letter:

The Age Letters - Make cyclists contribute (10/1/08)

IS IT fair that cyclists get to use our vast road system at no cost to
themselves? As a car driver, I strongly object to the fact that I must
pay an annual vehicle registration fee in order to use the road system,
while cyclists pay nothing.

It is my money, and that of countless other car owners, in the form of
said registration fees that pay for the upkeep of the road system, use
of which is taken for granted by cyclists. Should they not also be made
to register their bikes annually and contribute to such costs? Surely
that is reasonable and fair.

Leslie-John Newman, Newport

Mmmmm

So as the owner of one or more registered vehicles (as are the majority
of cyclists IMHO);

When I am using the road system via bicycle instead of registered
vehicle...I am still paying for the infrastructure.

In fact I am paying full rate for using an unrated vehicle...so I should
get a refund on my rego

Fulliautomatix said:

cfsmtb said:

Already send out a APB for letter writers on this illogical fluff. Full
text of letter:

The Age Letters - Make cyclists contribute (10/1/08)

IS IT fair that cyclists get to use our vast road system at no cost to
themselves? As a car driver, I strongly object to the fact that I must
pay an annual vehicle registration fee in order to use the road system,
while cyclists pay nothing.
It is my money, and that of countless other car owners, in the form of
said registration fees that pay for the upkeep of the road system, use
of which is taken for granted by cyclists. Should they not also be made
to register their bikes annually and contribute to such costs? Surely
that is reasonable and fair.

Leslie-John Newman, Newport

Mmmmm

So as the owner of one or more registered vehicles (as are the majority
of cyclists IMHO);

When I am using the road system via bicycle instead of registered
vehicle...I am still paying for the infrastructure.

In fact I am paying full rate for using an unrated vehicle...so I should
get a refund on my rego

We should ask the government to issue a second, smaller set of number
plates that you fit to your bike, then people that complain about
cyclists not paying rego will hopefully shut the hell up.

Elmo

Fulliautomatix said:

So as the owner of one or more registered vehicles (as are the majority
of cyclists IMHO);

When I am using the road system via bicycle instead of registered
vehicle...I am still paying for the infrastructure.

In fact I am paying full rate for using an unrated vehicle...so I should
get a refund on my rego

Some of today's letter writers make that point, pity though no one mentioned consolidated revenue actually pays for the majority of infrastructure costs.

From todays (11/01/08) Age letters.

***

Free run makes sense for bikes

LESLIE-JOHN Newman (Letters, 10/1) suggests that cyclists are getting a free ride and should pay registration. I understand the frustration of being gridlocked in Melbourne traffic every morning, and slugging the non-gridlocked with a hefty financial penalty would seem the perfect way for him to make himself feel less aggrieved. However, there are a few good reasons cyclists should be left to use the roads free of charge.

Most cyclists also own a car and contribute to the upkeep of roads through their car registration fees. As convenient as it is to cycle to work, there are other facets of life: visiting the folks in Mentone, getting to the golf course and using the Pakenham Bypass all require a car.

Motorists should give a little silent cheer every time they see a cyclist. Each bicycle means one less car choking up the Monash Freeway — or one extra space on a train. Cyclists help the rest of Melbourne get to work more quickly and cheerfully.

Cyclists don't contribute to greenhouse emissions. We should be encouraging people to ride bikes, not providing financial disincentives. If cycling remains free, more people might do it. Who knows, in 30 years, there may still be ice in Antarctica and St Kilda may not be completely under water.

How exciting to be able to use Victoria's roads without paying! We should celebrate the free ride and get on our bikes.

Bruce Hurst, Fairfield

Driving is the indulgence

IT IS fair that cyclists do not have to pay to use the roads. Cars cause noise and air pollution, create traffic problems, cause carnage and a huge cost to our health system, are an environmental nightmare and (along with heavy vehicles) cause nearly all the wear and tear on the road system. Bicycles do none of this, and the only real cost to society from cycling is when cyclists come into contact with cars. We in affluent societies think of driving as a right, but, in fact, it is an indulgence.

Paul Tyndale-Biscoe, Flemington

Cue to cut charges

BY CHOOSING to ride a bicycle some of the time, cyclists are causing less wear and tear on roads, not to mention the benefits to air quality and the flow-on effect to the health system of keeping themselves healthier. So perhaps cyclists should actually receive a reduction on their car registrations?

Tracey Bjorksten, North Melbourne

Make everyone pay

NEWMAN is right on the knocker. Make the user pay for the upkeep of surfaces! And while we're at it, what about pedestrians paying for the upkeep of footpaths? Special rates would have to be struck depending on whether prams or shopping jeeps accompany said peds. And let's not forget those dangerous little nippers on tricycles or roller skates or skateboards. A logical extension to this excellent plan would be to levy compulsory third-party insurance on all the aforementioned. Then we could sue when some thoughtless mother runs us down with an overloaded pusher, or some wretched child scares the living daylights out of us zooming past on an out-of-control plank on wheels.

I'm quite excited about the prospects of this proposal and will write further when I have developed a scheme to deal with dog droppings and councils that allow shade trees to distort the pavement surface.

Rosalind Poole, Abbotsford

Bike rego

I WOULD be more than willing to pay a registration fee for my bike (based on weight) as long as I get a discount for not using my car.

Ray Jones, Box Hill North

CYCLISTS, users of public transport and pedestrians should really get a refund for reducing their greenhouse damage.

Ian Price, The Basin

Elmo said:

We should ask the government to issue a second, smaller set of number
plates that you fit to your bike, then people that complain about
cyclists not paying rego will hopefully shut the hell up.

Why wait for the government to do it?

Stickers are pretty easy to make.

Two stickers, 100x50mm, with your car's number plate; one each side of
the downtube.

Replace the usual pithy slogan (eg "Victoria - the place to be"😉 with
"One less car"

I've been thinking of a way to start such a scheme for a while. Now
might be the time.

tim

tim said:

Elmo said:

We should ask the government to issue a second, smaller set of number
plates that you fit to your bike, then people that complain about
cyclists not paying rego will hopefully shut the hell up.

Why wait for the government to do it?

Stickers are pretty easy to make.

Two stickers, 100x50mm, with your car's number plate; one each side of
the downtube.

Replace the usual pithy slogan (eg "Victoria - the place to be"😉 with
"One less car"

I've been thinking of a way to start such a scheme for a while. Now
might be the time.

tim

Maybe we should all have the same rego plate

"1LSSCR"

phillip brown

phillip brown said:

Maybe we should all have the same rego plate

"1LSSCR"

phillip brown

I used to have a "FRANK" toy rego plate on the rear pannier rack. Because my bikes liked being called Frank. And they're all sentient too.