The latest legislation on cycle paths in Switzerland — the Federal Regulation on Bicycle Lanes (LVC) — which got here into impact on January 1st, 2023, mandates cantons to develop and implement cycle path networks on their territories, with a deadline to finalise plans set for the tip of 2027, and the precise implementation for 2040.
However is it cheap to position the burden of footing the invoice for this venture on taxpayers, lots of whom could not even personal a motorbike, a lot much less experience it?
In February Zurich’s cantonal parliament provisionally supported a movement asking that cyclists pay a visitors tax.
The proposal is due to this fact calling for a cost-covering visitors tax for cyclists but it surely may not simply be bike customers in Zurich that should pay. Related issues are already being made on the federal stage.
The ‘person pays’ precept
The Federal Roads Workplace (ASTRA) is finding out the likelihood of introducing a tax on two-wheelers for the aim of financing the biking infrastructure.
It’s analyzing not solely the precise quantity of the tax, but additionally the shape it can take — it could possibly be a bodily or digital vignette, as is the case with vehicles and different automobiles — an annual price, or a surcharge whereas buying a brand new bicycle.
The concept has its supporters and opponents.
Amongst these in favour of the tax is MP Xavier de Haller, who can be the president of the Vaud part of the Car Membership of Switzerland (ACS). For him, such monetary contribution from cyclists, „even a modest one, is “fully logical.”
The identical ‘user-pays’ precept already issues motorists, who not solely pay an annual car tax, but additionally a 40-franc vignette they have to buy every year, he mentioned.
However, deputy Louise Trottet, who’s a part of the pro-biking foyer, believes that the tax would trigger quite a lot of „absurdities,“ such because the destiny of youngsters who experience bikes.
„Are we going to tax them too?“ she requested.
Trottet additionally identified that many cyclists personal vehicles, in order that they already pay their share of taxes as motorists.
Commercial
What’s the bike lane state of affairs in Switzerland proper now?
Regardless of the LVC laws, various Swiss cantons are dragging their toes in implementing this legislation on bike lane networks.
READ ALSO: Why Switzerland is less than pace on new bike lanes
In line with the Swiss Bicycle Advocacy Affiliation (Professional Velo), “the LVC provides the cantons duties and deadlines to respect. Some cantons present that they take them severely, by presenting introductory legal guidelines shortly after entry into power. Others are lagging behind.”
Among the many ones on the precise path are Bern, Valais, Fribourg, and Lucerne.
General, nonetheless, „Switzerland has a high-quality biking infrastructure, with in depth community of designated bike paths,“ Professional Veto mentioned.
In truth, capital Bern is among the many top-10 cities in Europe when it comes to “bike-friendliness,” as one worldwide research indicated.
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