US Government to Bicyclists: Drop Dead!

There is something terribly wrong when the Republican political philosophy that is so strongly against tax increases is applied in every instance, even when it makes no sense or is destroying the wealth of the nation.

Not only does it cost money to maintain the road and highway infrastructure in the United States, costs which are recovered to the tune of maybe 50% with gasoline excise taxes;

it also costs billions of dollars every day to maintain military access to supplies of relatively cheap oil, and that cost certainly isn't covered by gasoline excise taxes. The cost of the Iraq War is $2 billion+/day. Also see this counter. And more money is spent on the military, especially the Navy, outside of the war theater in Iraq.

Ryan sends a link to a piece about U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Mary Peters arguing that the gasoline excise tax is adequate, that to fund infrastructure repair, just stop spening money on accommodating bicyclists, and presumably walking. See "U.S. Secretary Peters Says Bikes 'Are Not Transportation'," from Planetizen, which links to the original story from Streetsblog.

The Candorville comic strip from Friday is so real life that it almost isn't funny. But it is. Sadly.
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This reminds me of a terrible presentation by a HUD Assistant Secretary at the CNU conference in DC 3 or 4 years ago. He had to follow John Prescott, Deputy Prime Minister (then) of the UK, who led the government's urban planning and placemaking initiatives. A good 1/3 or more of the audience walked out, during the HUD Assistant Secretary's recitation of the administration's pro-automobile policies, including recommending against impact fees being assessed to new developments.