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From: bill@utastro.UUCP (William H. Jefferys)
Newsgroups: net.bicycle,net.politics
Subject: Re: Bicycles, Violence and Hatred
Message-ID: <195@utastro.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 5-Jun-85 17:00:46 EDT
Article-I.D.: utastro.195
Posted: Wed Jun  5 17:00:46 1985
Date-Received: Sun, 9-Jun-85 01:33:38 EDT
References: <988@ames.UUCP> <492@ihlpg.UUCP> <972@peora.UUCP> <941@noscvax.UUCP> <903@mhuxt.UUCP>
Organization: U. Texas, Astronomy, Austin, TX
Lines: 39
Xref: watmath net.bicycle:1249 net.politics:9316

> > 
> > First of all where did the idea come from that roads were intended for
> > automobiles and not for biclycles.  Historically, roads were
> > originally intended for bicycles and autos were considered a nuisance.
> 
>      Sure they were.  Any evidence for this, or are we just supposed to
> take your word for it?  (Were the horses and wagons allowed on the road
> with the bicycles?)
> 
The League of American Wheelmen was established nearly 100 years
ago as the umbrella organization for bicycling in the USA.  One of
the things it fought for very early on were good roads for
cyclists.  You may not be aware of it, but in the 1890's cycling
was a national craze comparable to home computers today.

> > Secondly, as a tax payer I pay for the maintanence and patrolling of
> > roads.
> 
>      With the taxes you pay which are built into the price of gasoline
> you pay for the maintenance and patrolling of roads.  How much gasoline
> do you buy for your bycicle?

Most bicycling is done in cities and towns.  Certainly nearly all
of mine is.  Taxes for the roads in my hometown are paid for by
*property taxes*, not gasoline taxes, as they are in most incorporated
areas.  My tax bill doubled last year, and you bet, I demand my
money's worth.

> Jeff Sonntag
> ihnp4!mhuxt!js2j

-- 
"Men never do evil so cheerfully and so completely as when they do so from
	religious conviction."  -- Blaise Pascal

	Bill Jefferys  8-%
	Astronomy Dept, University of Texas, Austin TX 78712   (USnail)
	{allegra,ihnp4}!{ut-sally,noao}!utastro!bill	(uucp)
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