Breathing by Bicyclists Causes Proollution - Redux

Here is a Repost from

Tuesday, March 5, 2013

Breathing by Bicyclists Causes Pollution

 I love politicians don't you?  I read an article this morning in the Huffington Post.  See:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/03/04/ed-orcutt-bike-riders-pollute-environment-washington_n_2805658.html

Washington state Rep. Ed Orcutt (R–Kalama), a ranking member of the State Transportation Committee, argues that bicycling is bad for the environment and says bike riders should have to pay a tax to help maintain the state's roads. Orcutt made his comments in an email, which was posted by the Cascade bicycle club blog on Saturday.

In the message, Orcutt states bike riders pollute the environment because they produce more carbon dioxide than car drivers.  

The email from the lawmaker, which was written to bike shop owner Dale Carson, goes on to say that because bike riders have an "increased heart rate and respiration," the act of riding a bike "results in greater emissions of carbon dioxide from the rider." 

 "Since CO2 is deemed to be a greenhouse gas and a pollutant, bicyclists are actually polluting when they ride," Orcutt wrote in the message, which Carson provided to The Huffington Post on Monday.

Carson had originally written Orcutt an email arguing against a proposed 5 percent bicycle tax on bikes that cost more than $500. He said biking is good for the environment as part of his argument for why bicycle riders save taxpayers money.

If the argument for a bike tax is that the bicyclists use the road and should share in its upkeep, I have no problem with the argument.  I might disagree with the policy of such a tax but I cannot say the argument is crazy.  If you are trying to raise money for the government to fix roads it is an argument attempting to justify a bike tax.  I for one am glad a republican made the argument. They don't want to tax the oil companies but lets tax the five year old's first tricycle.

However, if the argument is that "breathing causes pollution, bicyclists breathe, therefore bicyclists cause pollution and they should be taxed", then I think of all of the wonderful expansions of such an argument.  Look at all the people doing things that involve breathing, which causes pollution and which therefore should be taxed:

Mom's jogging while pushing a baby buggy

Kids running and swinging in the park

Families hiking in the mountains

Old folks exerting themselves walking with walkers or riding wheel chairs.

Pedestrians

I say tax em all.  I knew there was something wrong and suspicious with all these old folks using walkers.  Now I know what it is.  They are eco-terrorists. Tax them before it is too late.

Now when I see bicyclists on the road, I will not appreciate their environmental efforts.  I will see the enemy, users, bastards. 


Look at these photos.  Don't these bikes just scream out for taxation?

A pretty outfit will not reduce your carbon footprint sir

 Public Enemy No. 1

These fellows are creating pollution in two directions

This guy is worse than a diesel truck

This is for the lazy polluter

 I probably would exempt this rider from tax, she is obviously providing a public service

Watch out for the bike riders, the true cause of climate change.