If you’re a bike commuter, you might have noticed a discrepancy: Your colleagues who drive or take public transit to work get tax benefits to cover some of their costs, but you don’t.
It hasn’t always been this way. In 2008, Congress approved modest incentives to bike commuters and employers who supported them. That program was rescinded in 2017 as part of broader spending cuts. But this month, Rep. Earl Blumenauer, of Oregon’s 3rd Congressional District, reintroduced the Bicycle Commuter Act to bring back incentives for bike commuters.
Rev recently spoke to Blumenauer. This conversation has been edited for clarity and length.
You’ve been advocating for bike policies for two decades in Congress. What has changed in that time?
When I first came here, I rarely saw cyclists, even around Capitol Hill. That has dramatically changed.
For years, I’ve sent out a letter of advice telling people what I wish people had told me when I first came to D.C., and one of the things I suggest is to bring a bike or to use bikeshare. There are increasing numbers of people in Congress who do just that.
Things are moving in the right direction. People recognize it.
How does the Bicycle Commuter Act improve upon what existed before 2017?
We’re seeking to have a greater level of financial support, up to $81 a month for bike commuters, and we’re going to make the benefit pre-tax — just like parking and transit benefits — rather than a reimbursement. And importantly, it would include bikeshare and scooter programs, as well as electric bikes.
How would this bill enhance transportation equity?
Cycling is efficient and it’s democratic because it is not particularly expensive. Unfortunately, we have yet to fully realize these opportunities, particularly for low-income and minority communities, but progress is being made.
The federal government historically pushed policies that divided these communities and made people less safe. We put a premium on trying to travel through them as fast as possible, which increases the likelihood of serious death and injury and deteriorates the quality of life for people in these neighborhoods.
We’re also in a situation now where the most vulnerable people on the road — especially older people and children — are at serious risk.
So we’re working with this suite of policies to give people more transportation choices and to spotlight the benefits and consequences of that.
The case for bike commuting is up against two forces: One is the low number of people who commute by bike today; another is the fact that there are far fewer people commuting to work at all. What will it take to encourage people to take up bike commuting?
Make it as safe as possible. And there is safety in numbers. The more people who are biking, the safer it is.
Why have federal legislation rather than leaving it to the states or cities?
The two aren’t mutually exclusive. Federal investments have been able to accelerate what’s happening at the state and local levels. The federal government is in a position to exercise leadership because it invests significant sums in very visible transportation projects.
In Houston, former Mayor Annise Parker undertook a $100 million-plus bond measure for bike infrastructure, combining it with investments in flood management. I was there earlier this year and had a chance to look at the results. It’s remarkable, especially for Houston, which is the poster child for auto-dominated cities. Bike infrastructure has taken hold and made a difference.
And in Indianapolis, metropolitan Philadelphia, and around the country, there have been combinations of funding sources that have made a difference.
Why do you think it’s important to incentivize bike commuting?
The bicycle is the most efficient form of transportation ever designed. It’s imperative that we burn more calories and less fossil fuel, and the Bicycle Commuter Act is a small step toward rebalancing the scales. If we’re able to enact it, it would allow cyclists a little more parity toward the benefits that we lavish on auto drivers.
Why do you like biking?
It’s just an entirely different experience for people’s peace of mind, for their individual health, and for their pocketbook. My decision to bring a couple of bicycles to Washington, D.C., for myself and guests ended up saving me tens of thousands of dollars over the years.
I look forward to hopping on a bike in the morning to get to work. It is a positive experience, and I get a little fresh air, even in bad weather.
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