Veteran Leaguer - LVRC

Vehicle Excise Duty for Cyclists?
by Allan Ramsay
Given there was a time (not too long ago) that brightness
wasn’t needed to pass a driving test, and in fact it was possible
to get a driving licence without taking a driving test (simply
get a friend to take it, or in some instances there were people
running a ‘business’ taking the test for a small fee – around
£500) it’s understandable that there’s many an ignoramus
driver, who thinks road construction and repair is paid for with
‘road tax’.
The worst of it is, these idiots don’t think cyclists have a right
to be on the road because they don’t pay the so called ‘road
tax’. Consequently, it’s totally acceptable to intimidate, and
hurl verbal abuse, or even ‘missiles’ at cyclists. Indeed, it’s oddson
that many a cyclist has been run off the road and injured
by these drivers. How many cyclists might have been put in
wheelchairs or killed by these ‘terrorists’?
Law’s to punish and prevent such actions are pretty weak to
say the least, and with high fuel prices forcing people to get
on a bicycle to survive, stiffer penalties for drivers who injure
cyclists are needed. If looters are the scum of the earth, drivers
who intimidate vulnerable cyclists, are right there along side
them.
Unfortunately, Mike Penning, minister for road safety, who
could put matters right –humanely right – doesn’t appear to
be on the cyclists side. Earlier in the year, in a parliamentary
debate about allowing motor sport to use public highways, he
ignored a call to allow cycle sport to benefit from the same
relaxation (in Belgium all cycle racing enjoys the safety of
roads closed to motor vehicles, indeed no vehicle can even
park on the course during a race)
Also during the debate Mr Penning was recorded as saying:
“We also need to ensure that the motorist, who predominantly
pays for our roads, is not inconvenienced too much.” Should
he be in his job if he doesn’t know that roads are paid for out
of the consolidated fund and motorists haven’t directly paid a
penny for roads since 1937? Roads are paid for out of general
and local taxation.
It needs stressing that not one single penny from car tax
goes to building or maintaining roads. Vehicle Excise Duty is
a tax on vehicles, not a tax to pay for roads. Somebody please
tell the minister, and put an end to this war against cyclists.
This piece was sent to 20 odd newspapers and a few TV
programmes. It was used as lead letter in two of my local papers
where, not suprisingly, it attracted criticism from the anti-cycling
brigade.
One writer used words like naivety, ridiculous, and nonsensical,
pointing out that since I'd argued that roads are paid for out of a
consolidated fund, I was wrong to say motorists are not paying
"one single penny".
I wrote back acknowleding the oversight, but that I had used
"directly" earlier in the letter. I also took the oppotunity to show
how motoring - with all the hidden costs of pollution, injury,
illness, sickness/disabilty benefit, etc. - is effctively subsidised from
other forms of taxation. It was also used as a lead letter.
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The Veteran Leaguer: Autumn 2011 Page 19