Council Resolution: Bikers Deserve Tax Break (Updated Below)

11:46 AM PST on January 17, 2008

The City Council Wants to Exempt Employer Benefits to Cyclists

Tomorrow, the Los Angeles City Council is expected to pass a resolution urging the federal government to change federal law to provide tax breaks for bike commuters. Currently, employers are allowed to subsidize parking, provide transit tickets tax free (up to a certain amount) and provide a refund for carpool drivers based on VMT. No such benefit exists for cyclists.

The Bicycle Commuters Benefits Act of 2007, s. 858, seeks to change that by allowing employers to provide an extra benefit to bike commuters tax-free. Some of the things an employer could provide include: a bike, accessories and safety equipment, life and personal property insurance premiums, and locker rental.

The City Council resolution was authored by Transportation Committee Chair Wendy Greuel. No California Senator has yet sponsored S. 858.

Update, Friday at 3:45: I just spoke to the City Clerk's office who confirmed that the motion passed the full Council by unanimous consent.

Damien Newton @

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