Kent councillor calls for road tax on cyclists

Whenever I ride my bike I have always paid road tax. I asume I have as todate I have never received a rebate for not using my car. Why do electorial candidates turn in to pillocks once elected
PDC

email sent. freaking idiot.

Hi,
I live in the Sevenoaks District, but couldnt get to the meeting reported.
I have submitted a letter to the Local paper for publication, here is it's content:-

Dear Sir,

It does seem that the basic requirement of getting facts right before making public utterances has eluded Cllr Abraham according to the Chronicle September 9th. His statement "They're more dangerous than any car I've ever seen." is contradicted by dft statistics that show despite an average of 7 road accident deaths a day in the UK , in the past decade only one is attributed to a cyclist. Further a RTL report of 2009 concluded that in accidents involving cyclists; that cyclists were responsible in a mere 7% of accidents.

In view of these overwhelming facts, Cllr Abrahams desire to compulsory insure cyclists is unnecessary. That is unless it is required to ease the strain on insurance companys due to motoring accidents.

His further desire that cyclists should be taxed, I am sure would be adopted by a cash strapped government somewhere in the World, If it were possible to administer such a tax in a cost effective way and realistically reflect the demands on the environment and infrastructure by cycling. Quite a number of countries actually offer tax incentives to cyclists in order to reduce pollution and congestion.

In localities where local authorities and schools have collaborated in providing safe routes to schools under the Bikeit scheme the numbers of children cycling to school has doubled (according to dft) thus reducing pollution, congestion and reaping health benefits. Is Cllr Abraham actually in favour of taxing children for improving the environment and being healthy?

I have written directly to Cllr Cook in a less hostile manner as I think her comments came more from ignorance than blind prejudice. The Sevenoaks Cycle Forum is attempting to establish a dialogue with the local council as exisits elsewhere in Kent. It is a very slow uphill task and both guns blazing in all circumstances will not help matters.

"cyclists see themselves as king of the road"

i love that quote. its the hidden meaning - i.e. how can these cyclists think THEY are king of the road? do they not know that only I can be king of the road when I am in my CAR!

I wonder if I can hit these councillors with a bike, instead of trying to run over my local council estate kids

does anyone know what percentage of cars on the road are in Tax-band-A (ie. £0)? and how much money they cost the goverenment in terms of road costs, ie. how much is spent on roads each year mutliplied by the above percentage.

I reckon the figure will be higer than the amount they spend on cycle facilities. Might shut them up.

What should cyclists pay for with a road tax or fee? The wear and tear they inflict tot he road surface? Potholes? How many 20-odd pound bicycles cause potholes compared to 2-ton cars?!

With the roads taking a pounding from motorised vehicles, how can one even attempt to estimate the posited wear and tear supposedly inflicted by a 20-odd pound bicycle?

As to insurance this is idiocy; might as well suggest cyclists have to get operator's licenses. Cyclists have never been required to do either because only CAR DRIVERS have ever been required to get insurance or licenses. Why? This side of an express train they the most dangerous form of conveyance on the road. Seriously, how many drivers inside cars are hurt or killed by cyclists crashing into their cars every year?

Following on from this. Below is a message I have just circulated to members of the Sevenoaks Cycle Forum. If anyone looking at this web site would like to help us please respond as explained below.

Thanks
Reg Oakley

Dear All,
I am sure most of you by now will have recieved the latest publicity magazine from KCC. If you haven't or have already disposed of it, you can see it here:- https://shareweb.kent.gov.uk/Documents/News/around-kent/around-kent-autu... . On page 7 in the part on the week of a typical Kent family, it states:- "Debbie cycles to her parents' house everyday - KCC and the district councils promote cycling."

Sadly in the unique case of Sevenoaks District Council that statement is far from the truth. The truth is that SDC are stretching the definition of the phrase "democratic proccess" in order not to make any effort to promote cycling. The Sevenoaks Cycle Forum is considering how it can once again formally challenge this situation. In the meantime, you can all create an awareness of SDCs failings by comenting on the error in the KCC magazine.

Pen and paper will make the greatest impact and I include the mail adresses below. However an Email that doesn't contain a reference to cycling in the subject can start to get the message across.

Email to paul [at] kent.gov.uk (Paul Carter KCC leader) with a cc to cllr.fleming [at] sevenoaks.gov.uk (Peter Fleming SDC leader).

Pen and paper responses to Paul Carter, Leaders Office, Sessions House,
Maidstone, Kent, ME14 1XQ.

and Cllr P. Fleming, Sevenoaks District Council, Argyle Road, Sevenoaks, Kent TN13 1HG.

Thanking you in anticipation of your support,

Reg Oakley

Good job they're Councillors - we wouldn't want them in the real world. But the staggering thing is that Councillors with this little common sense are allowed to drive motor vehicles on public highways!!!

Hang on folks. i pay no VED for my current (hybrid) car so surely if this was passed it would have to be a rebate as i'm pretty certain my bike is more environmentally friendly than the car