The Wheels on the Bike Go 'Round and 'Round....

Responding to a recent letter asking the City of Portland exactly why bicyclists are not required to carry any sort of:

1.  Operator's License;
2.  Proof of Insurance;
3.  Adequate Head and Taillights;
4.  Adequate Turn Signals/Stop Signals;
5.  Adequate Fnders;
6.  High-Visibility Clothing;
7.  "Fair Share" of Road Costs.

The response from the mid-level bureaucrat is priceless:  "Our study shows that 85per cent of bicyclists have motor vehicles which do pay their "fair share" of road-use taxes."

Isn't that perfectly typical of the mindset?  Did he forget that 99% of all motorcyclists also own cars, but are required by law to have separate insurance, and an endorsement on their driver's license, "adequate" head- and taillights, "adequate" turn signals/ brake lights, "adequate" fenders, and "adequate" safety clothing.    "Fair?"

My RV trailer costs $96.00 per year to license.  It burns NO gas, has all lights, brakes, and safety gear.  But it still contributes nearly a hundred dollars a year to road use, even though it is actually parked 353 out of 365 days each year.  So the contribution to the DOT coffers is $8.00 per each of the 12 days of actual road use.  Hmmmm.   "Fair?"
But the bicycle is Portland City Government's sacred cow.  Why else would Mayor Adams embezzle $20 Million of taxpayer funds from the "Big Pipe" sewer project in order to fund his pet project:  the creation of a Bicycle Nirvannah of the Northwest?  Never mind that you or I would be summarily fired and probably jailed for such a bit of bookkeeping legerdemain.  Nevertheless, our Mayor is resolute to make Portland the Copenhagen of the Americas, never mind that Copenhagen is an islandic city and is flatter than Juan Colorado's tortillas, whose ancient streets are navigable by only the tiniest of autos and handcarts.  Our leadership seems hell-bent on pushing us headlong into the 19th Century as far as transportation is concerned. 

Perhaps I'll just ride my horse, which the City is providing free-of-charge to all motorists.  YES, I said FREE!!  How do I know?  Simple:  wherever there's this much horsesh*t, there just HAS to be a pony!