Congressional Bill Would Offer a Bigger Tax Break for People Who Bike to Work

Eilie Anzilotti reports on a bill introduced in Congress in March would expand a tax benefit to people who commute by bike—a tax break that would amount to 20% of the deduction offered to people who commute by car or by public transit.

The bill, the Bicycle Commuter Act (HR 1507), is co-sponsored by Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-Oregon), Rep. Ayanna Pressley (D-Massachusetts), and Rep. Vern Buchanan (R-Florida).

"Before this bill, bike commuters were eligible for $20 a month, but the benefit was structured as a reimbursement, not a pre-tax deduction, and Trump’s Tax Cuts and Jobs Act repealed that small benefit in 2017," according to Anzilotti. (Planetizen previewed that action in November 2017.)

Anzilotti adds a bit of commentary on the likely outcomes of the bill, arguing that tax incentives won't be enough to convince significant numbers of Americans to ride bikes to work instead of driving. Still, "recognizing people who do bike to work with a little extra cash can’t hurt," according to Anzilotti.