From January cycle commuters in the US will be entitled to a tax free payment of $20 per month to cover bike repair and maintenance.
Under the Bicycle Commuter Act participating employers who pay their staff to ride to work will themselves be entitled to a tax break from the US Government.
The Act, which cycling advocates have been trying to get passed for seven years, was one of the measures tacked on to the US Government’s bank rescue package in a bid to get it through Congress. Cycle lobby groups in the US say the Commuter Act finally gives cyclists the same sorts of tax benefits long given to motorists.
Groups such as the League of American Cyclists are now turning their attention to the planning laws. They want the US to follow the lead of countries such as Holland and Denmark where planners and developers are forced to include provision for cyclists in any new builds or transport systems
