Car communters are entitled to parking allowances by some employers, how about some political push
for incentives to ride to work? The Greens maybe?
BICYCLE COMMUTER ACT INTRODUCED IN U.S. SENATE
Senators Olympia Snowe (R-ME) and Ron Wyden (D-OR) introduced legislation on May 21 in the U.S.
Senate to extend the transportation fringe benefit in the tax code to people who commute to work on
their bicycles. The transportation fringe benefit is an incentive to get more people to use
alternative modes of transportation for commuting to reduce traffic congestion, pollution and wear
and tear on the roads. DETAILS
The Bicycle Commuter Act, S. 1093, would allow an employer to offer a monthly cash reimbursement to
an employee who commutes to work by bicycle, providing a tax benefit to the employer and helping
defray commuting expenses for the bicyclist. S. 1093 is a companion measure to H.R. 1052 introduced
earlier this year by Congressmen Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) and Mark Foley (R-FL). According to
Blumenauer, "The upcoming TEA-21 reauthorization is a perfect opportunity to examine all approaches
to improve and support mobility options for Americans, making this the time to pass the Bike
Commuter Act. Today's introduction of the Bike Commuter Act in the Senate shows that this
legislation is gaining momentum at a crucial time."
Elissa Margolin, Executive Director of the League, said, "We look forward to working with Senators
Snowe and Wyden as well as Congressmen Blumenauer and Foley to move this legislation through
Congress." Click HERE for the League's issue paper on the Act.