Fwd: REMINDER: Bicycle Commuter Credit Brown Bag - June 3rd (TOMORROW)
Charles Redell
From: Jessica Szelag <jess...@commuteseattle.com>
Date: Wed, Jun 2, 2010 at 9:57 AM
Subject: REMINDER: Bicycle Commuter Credit Brown Bag - June 3rd (TOMORROW)
To: Jessica Szelag <jess...@commuteseattle.com>
Join us tomorrow at 12pm to find out how you can receive the Bicycle Commuter Credit!
Come learn about the legislation and best practices for implementing the Bicycle Commuter Credit at your worksite and/or provide your insight and experience accessing the credit through your employer. Join us during lunch on June 3rd at Commute Seattle’s office. Dessert’s on us!
What: Bicycle Commuter Credit Brown Bag
When: Thursday, June 3rd at 12:00pm
Where: 600 Stewart St, Suite 200
RSVP: Email jess...@commuteseattle.com
Luke Lamon, a student at the University of Washington, has been researching the usage and practicality of the 2009 Bicycle Commuter Act and is looking to receive feedback and insight into real world application of the $20/month bicycle credit (more information about the act is below). Luke has spent the last year researching the legislation and will present strategies and examples of workplaces where the credit has been implemented successfully.
2009 Bicycle Commuter Act
In early 2009, the Bicycle Commuter Act was passed by Congress as part of the Renewable Energy Tax legislation. Introduced by Rep. Earl Blumenauer of Portland, this bill is intended to defray some of the fixed costs associated with bicycle commuting by offering cyclists a $20/month stipend for equipment and maintenance. You can qualify for this monthly allowance if:
1) You use a bicycle for the majority of commuting trips, and
2) You are not already accepting other qualified transportation fringe benefits, such as those offered to transit riders.
This legislation attempts to extend to cyclists some of the same benefits already offered to employees who use transit or carpool. It is administered through an employer’s commuter benefit provider, whether in-house or contracted. The Bicycle Commuter Tax Provision offers a monetary incentive to people who choose a bicycle over a car in their daily commute. Though $20/month may not seem like much, $240 a year is a fair estimation of the cost for maintenance and care of a daily commuter cycle over the course of 12 months. The League of American Bicyclists has put together an FAQ page here, including downloadable forms to submit to your employer.