Back in November there was buzz that Portland congressman Earl Blumenauer might be named to lead the U.S. Department of Transportation under President Joe Biden. That didn’t happen, but it doesn’t mean the founder and co-chair of the Congressional Bike Caucus will be on the sidelines of U.S. transportation policy.
His latest attempt to put cycling on same playing field as driving and transit.
10 years after he fought to pass it, now he’s fighting to save it.
Rep. Earl Blumenauer at a reception this morning on Capitol Hill.(Photo © J. Maus) When the Bike Commuter Benefit Act passed back in October, it was somewhat of a shallow victory for advocates who had pushed for its passage for seven long years. Not only did it pass as a ploy to build support for … Read more
Getting paid to ride to work isn’t that easy…yet.(Photo © J. Maus) I’ve gotten many emails over the past few weeks wondering why I haven’t covered the Bike Commute Tax Benefit that became law on January 1. One reason is that I’m just not all that enthused about it; and it turns out I’m not … Read more
Blumenauer at the unveiling of his Gas Price Relief Act, one of manypieces of legislation that included a bike commuter tax break over the years.(Photo: J. Maus) What a long, strange trip it’s been for Congressman Earl Blumenauer and his Bike Commuter Act. The House Democrat is a former City Commissioner of Transportation in Portland … Read more
[See below for updates: Hint, Blumenauer is saying he won’t support the bailout package.] “The (bailout) bill now includes a… tax benefit for bicycle commuting sought by Rep. Earl Blumenauer, an Oregon Democrat, also a “no” vote on Monday.”— from an article in the Baltimore Sun Hoping to garner votes from House members who previously … Read more
“I think it’s the best chance the Bike Commuter Act has had so far in the Senate.”— Katie Drennan, a legislative assistant for Congressman Earl Blumenauer For the fourth time this session, the U.S. House of Representatives has passed a bill that includes a tax benefit people who ride their bikes to work. The Bike … Read more
Bike legislation is moving forward in D.C.(Photo © J. Maus) House Congressional Resolution 305, also known as the National Bike Bill, has passed through a vote by the U.S. House of Representatives earlier this week. The resolution — which was introduced by Congressman Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) back in February — recognizes the importance of bicycling … Read more
Now it’s onto the Senate. More on this story was published yesterday. Official press release from Blumenauer’s office is below:
Blumenauer, shown here at the National Bike Summit last year, hopes his Bike Commuter Act will finally fly with lawmakers.(Photo © J. Maus) On the heels of record profits by the big five oil companies, U.S. Congressman Earl Blumenauer (D-Portland) will once again try to enact a tax benefit for bike commuters and close the … Read more
Congressman Earl Blumenauer introducing the Bike Commuter Act on Capitol Hill last March.(Photo © Jonathan Maus) The bike commuter tax benefit — which was introduced to Congress by Earl Blumenauer last March and passed a House vote last week — has been stripped out of the Energy Bill by the Senate. The U.S. Senate passed … Read more
Comment of the Week: We need more public restrooms downtown