This morning’s Gresham Outlook newspaper has a story about new legislation that has been drafted by Oregon State Rep. John Lim (R-Gresham) that would give a tax break to bike commuters.
According to the Outlook, the current draft language of the bill says,
“a taxpayer who rides a bicycle to work at least 10 days a month could receive a $15 tax credit per month that would be applied to their personal income tax. A business could claim up to a $5,000 corporate tax credit for installing bicycle racks and showers for their employees who commute by bicycle.”
(Photo J. Maus)
Lim told the Outlook, that, “Its one tool to address traffic conditions in an environmentally-friendly way, and its a healthy alternative.”
At this point, Lim says the bike commuter tax breaks would be introduced as a pilot program to be adopted by cities, not a statewide law.
The Outlook reports that one other detail being considered is that to qualify, you’d have to ride to work at least 10 days a month.
The Oregon Legislature convenes in January 2009 and Lim is reportedly set to begin committee and public hearings before then so that “details can be worked out with state transportation and tax agencies.”
I’ve got a call into Lim’s office, but have yet to hear back.
On the national level, the latest iteration of Congressman Earl Blumenauer’s Bike Commuter Act is currently part of the Energy and Tax Extenders Act of 2008 (H.R. 6049). The bill has passed the House and the Senate (as of last week, by a vote of 93-2) and is now back in the House for a last review of amendments before it heads to the President’s desk for signing.
— Read the full story in the Gresham Outlook; Legislation would create tax credits for bicycle commuters