Raise the Hammer

Holding for a moment the abundance of truth that property taxes pay for the ability to move around one's neighborhood ...

You sound frustrated with the high cost of vehicle ownership, mostly administrative and insurance overhead - it is due to high power and lethality. To the extent that a motor vehicle is capable of writing off an entire building in a collision. Thus there is a system in place to ensure that only authorized and competent persons can exceed a certain horsepower. The emissions tests are a direct result of combustion engines producing noxious carcinogenic fumes.

As you go higher up the horsepower scale, competence-assurance and operating costs increase. Truck drivers have higher costs and requirements. Train engineers and airline pilots still higher requirements - those accidents can write off entire towns. Our system for public automobile use is actually quite lenient, after you pass the initial driving test when you're a teenager. Only now is Ontario starting to address elderly fitness for driving, after many sad fatal accidents involving elderly drivers.

If I am reading correctly your between-the-lines frustration with high cost of auto ownership, I agree. However I don't think cycling cost needs to go up. I think automotive costs can come down via bureaucratic efficiency improvements.

The ability to get around self-propelled should be as natural as walking. Whether you are roller blading or cycling, the lowest footprint methods of getting around town should be supported by default and encouraged.

Especially of concern is the concept that slower classes of locomotion should "pay for protection" from more dangerous traffic. That is inverted morally and practically for a densely populated urban environment.

Also may I take issue with the insinuation that cyclists are cheap and somehow don't want to pay. After being torn apart deciding between downtown Hamilton or Burlington, I am moving to Burlington where every street in my new neighborhood is two way and has bike lanes. I will pay higher rent in Burlington because property taxes pay for the ability to move around one's neighborhood. Would have paid a registration fee in Hamilton, voluntarily, if there was a point. But I would be alarmed at it being mandatory, because kids ride their bike to school, anybody strapped for cash has "free wheels", and the cleanest lowest footprint methods of movement should be free. I think these are good things in an advanced society.

Wow that was a long rant, but rather than just exchange tit for tat, some actual sharing of perspectives may be what's missing here. Hope this helps somewhat. Yes do read Justin's link to a recent conversation on costing.

Comment edited by mikeonthemountain on 2014-04-21 17:16:33