Keep Iowa bicycling

Fri January 25 2008
Posted Jan 25, 2008
4,997

DI Editorial Board In an age in which avarice trumps caution, we find ourselves with overcrowded roadways, a steadily worsening oil shortage, and an atmosphere in decay. As such, it would seem that citizens willing to trade in their cars for bicycles deserve commendation. Unfortunately, one Iowa senator would rather tax them arbitrarily. If this new bill passes, it appears that cracks, potholes, and faded yellow lines across the state will be paid for by the few Iowans who played no part in their creation. A Republican senator from Tama, Iowa, John Putney is the proud author of a bill that would require all cyclists to pay for their conscientious choice of transportation. If the bill passes, Iowa cyclists would need to obtain a "bicycle license" in order to ride on primary or secondary roads - even bicycle paths. The license would cost $10, but the bill will likely gain the majority of its revenues through fines. Because, clearly, if anyone is in need of further regulation, it's the menacing bicyclists of the Hawkeye State. The bill would seem to introduce a completely new realm of laws and regulations regarding transportation - a process that would surely impose large costs of its own. Obviously, the new laws would be enforced by police officers, who would begin randomly stopping bicyclists to confirm that they are licensed. Fines would be relatively slight, though citations have the potential to be crippling. For example, the "failure to obtain" a license - classified as a misdemeanor - will result in the loss of bicycle privileges for one year and a $10 fine. Moreover, "failure to carry" the license will also impose a $10 fee on riders. Bicyclists across the state are outraged at the inequitable nature of the bill, which seems to be primarily a product of ignorance. A senator he may be, but Putney is clearly not a bicyclist. Perhaps the most injudicious component of the bill is its intended purpose. A diehard proponent of all things loud, dirty, and inefficient, Putney seeks to improve roads for the trucks and SUVs that constantly batter them. However, rather than taxing these drivers as common sense would suggest, he proposes that bicyclists be made to fill the gap. In a move that can only be described as nonsensical, his bill will do little more than eliminate the freedom and low costs that prompt citizens to ride bicycles in the first place. In the end, the bill's greatest flaw is that it leads Iowans away from beneficial behavior. That is, it can only worsen problems of overcrowding, oil shortage, and environmental damage. Rather than being subjected to taxes and fines, bicyclists should be rewarded for their decision to abstain from driving. After all, it is a decision that many more will have to make as gas prices rise and atmospheric conditions worsen. Thus, it would seem that changing to an alternative mode of transportation should be made as appealing as possible - rewarded for its external benefits. However, if politicians such as John Putney succeed in their efforts, the best choice for an individual will become indisputably different from that for society.