Why stop at cyclists? Let’s tax everyone...

BY Edwin King’s logic, perhaps we should also tax baby buggies, joggers and pedestrians for the use of our roads (Tax all who use roads, Viewpoints, July 5).

Edwin wilfully ignores the fact that many cyclists are also car owners and therefore pay road tax already.

Cyclists with house insurance also enjoy third party liability for themselves and other household members. Plus, a proportionate level of road tax for a bike would be so low as to be uneconomical to collect. Isn’t that why dog licences are a thing of the past?

Despite his protestations to the contrary, he is obviously anticycling.

Perhaps he would be better employed researching the health and environmental benefits of cycling instead of wishing for laws to discourage the means of transport.

B Robertson, Ashton-under-Lyne

WELL Mr King, as a cyclist myself I’m not apposed to paying some sort of tax for using the road.

But if you do that then you will also have to tax electric, hybrid and cars with low emissions.

Paul Lowe, Gorton

EDWIN King in his letter asks the

question ‘why shouldn’t cyclists be taxed like other road users for the privilege of riding along our highways and other roads?.’ I can think of a few reasons. Bicycles are a very sensible mode of transport when compared to cars and other motorised vehicles because they do not emit any harmful emissions into the atmosphere.

Cyclists also set an example to car drivers in that they are prepared to commute in a form of transport that offers health benefits.

In a society where not everyone places a big emphasis on living a healthy lifestyle, the cyclist does, in fact, set a good example to everyone from this point of view.

Another reason is because many cyclists will probably tend to earn much lower incomes than many car drivers.

Howard Gardner, Sale