Dear Mr./Ms. Politician,

It’s obvious that we are in a fuel crisis. Gas is well over $3 per gallon and will continue to rise with no end in sight. This is sad and frustrating. I’m sure you remember the days of $1 per gallon. It really wasn’t that long ago that we enjoyed those prices. Now they are just a distant memory.

Because of the rising cost of driving I’ve decided to ride my bike into work nearly every day. I really don’t mind and I’m quickly ironing out anything that resembles a hassle. My wife waved the incentive of an iTunes download for each day I make the ride. The small gesture keeps me focused on getting out of bed on time. I’ll finally complete my Dokken library (see “Heavy Metal”) AND my 25 mile daily journey is a bit easier to bear.

I’ve noticed many other cyclists on the road during the morning and evening commutes, donning backpacks and/or panniers, which I can only assume hold their work cloths and toiletries. If you think about it, bike commuters are killing three birds with one stone: saving on fuel costs, maintaining a healthy lifestyle and keeping the air a bit cleaner. I could get into specifics on how each of these elements benefits society, but such an editorial would consume my publication. They are obvious benefits that I’m sure you are well versed in.

I’d like to propose a tax deduction for commuters choosing bicycles over automobiles. These individuals deserve a tax break for the reasons listed above.

Now, you may be wondering how such a deduction would be offered. One method I can suggest is to give a tax break for the amount of miles an automobile is NOT driven annually. The fewer miles driven, the bigger the tax break. I realize that those relying on public transportation and/or carpools would also benefit from this method. However, they would deserve such a reward too for making the commute better and being friendly to mother earth.

Another suggestion to track and reward would be by measuring how many miles a cyclist rides per day for their commute. A special IRS approved cyclometer could be developed and purchased by those interested in the deduction. I’m not an engineer or manufacturer, but I believe there are many smart cyclists who could develop such a device for a low cost.

Come to think of it, maybe my proposed system would utilize both methods of tracking. It may seem complicated, but complication is the IRS’s middle name. Like many other annual tax law changes, tax preparers would begrudgingly learn how to calculate this deduction. However, I doubt many would complain about such a great tax law.

Please take my proposal to heart and consider it for the future. Our country needs an incentive to ditch the cars and hop on their bikes.

Sincerely,

Alex McKinley
Publisher
TriHive

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