PORTLAND — Portland bicyclists could face a tax when they go to buy a new set of wheels.
A committee of the City Club of Portland proposes a 4 percent excise tax on new bicycles in a city that regularly ranks among the most bike-friendly in the country.
The Oregonian reports the revenue would go for bicycle safety programs at schools and increased data gathering, using more automated counters, for instance.
The study said bicycling is essential to improving the city’s economy and quality of life. It acknowledged tension, though, including uneasiness among some residents that better biking opportunities would hurt other forms of transportation.
The committee rejected a proposal from some members to license bicyclists as a way improving safety and improving riders’ image.
