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The campaign for the re-introduction of ‘Road Tax’  

11/28/2012

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Now, before I get a torrent of emails and tweets telling me, quite correctly, there is no such thing as ‘Road Tax’ just bear with me on this one...

Road tax, such as it was, was a hypothecated tax paid by motorists that went towards the maintenance of roads was indeed abolished in 1937. What is paid now is vehicle excise duty (VED) which, as few people who don’t own a bike seem to realise, is a tax on emissions, not on road use. It’s not ring fenced (hypothecated) for spending on road maintenance. The huge cost of maintaining our roads in the pitiful state they are in comes from (amongst other things) general taxation. You know, income tax and that. As cyclists, we know this and have the argument well rehearsed so we can trot it out when some moron in a car falls in to the cunning ‘get out of my way you Lycra clad freak, I pay my ROAD TAX you know’ trap we have cleverly set for them.

For the moment, I will leave aside the fact that most cyclists pay VED at some level anyway  – 87% of British Cycling members own a car. 

After mulling these fascinating facts over for literally minutes, I am firmly of the opinion that Road Tax should be re-introduced (ducks for cover). More particularly, I think Road Tax should be introduced for the first time specifically for cyclists (pulls covers over head) and furthermore it should not, under any circumstances, be paid by the drivers of cars or other vehicles (concretes self into cold war style bunker). I did say you’d need to bear with me didn’t I? 

I am determined that I and my fellow cyclists have the option to take the moral high ground and not only avoid the ‘tax dodger/soap dodger/buy a car’ insults but also pay for roads in a way that car drivers can only dream of. Consequently, I am delighted to announce that Mamil Cycling will shortly be launching a voluntary ‘Road Tax’ for cyclists. For 10 quid a year, you will get annual ‘Road Tax’ disc sticker for your bike proving that you have paid your tenner. At least half of this will go directly to Local Authority Highways Departments on the understanding is it spent on road maintenance, the remainder will go to cycling charities to promote training and safety for riders. A small proportion of it will go to making me a millionaire as other schemes I have launched along these lines have disappointingly so far failed to make this happen.     

While I’m at it, rather than having those completely pointless reflectors on handlebars of new bikes, there will be the option of displaying your 10 pence size ‘Road Tax Disc’ in a retro style holder.  It can’t be long before there are fetching T shirts and enamel lapel badges can it?  

Leaving competitively priced attractive merchandise to one side for a moment, image your satisfaction in being able to tell drivers that actually, yes, you do pay road tax and surprisingly, they don’t. Further, they should ‘get off your roads’ because they don’t pay for them and that they should ‘get a bike’. Even more importantly, imagine my satisfaction in becoming a millionaire and not having to go to work any more leaving me more time to ride my bike – on roads that I bl**dy well pay for...

I sense a massive victory over ‘readers’ of ‘newspapers’ like the Daily Mail is only just around a corner that you and I have paid to have maintained...

It may surprise you to learn Rich Smith has written a book 'ReCycled' now available in ebook and analogue (you know, paper, with a cover) via Amazon. 

Further the Great Britain Transplant Cycling team are raising money to compete in the World Transplant Games in Durban next year and have a Just Giving page should you feel so inclined. 

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The road to South Africa...

11/19/2012

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I had an interesting and productive day yesterday. 10 members of the GB Transplant cycling team came together at the track in Aldersley, Wolverhampton for the first ‘on bike’ training session in preparation for the trip to Durban, South Africa in July 2013 to compete in the 19th edition of the World Transplant Games.

In order to be a member of this most exclusive of cycling teams you need to have two rare but important attributes. One is that you need to have had a life supporting organ transplant – that’s the easy bit.  The squad of 21 includes a good cross section of transplants (kidney, heart, liver and bone marrow) and goes from 16 to 70 plus in age range (the racing is age categorised) and contains more women than men right now.  Secondly you need to be quick on a bike – properly quick, not ‘ill quick’ not ‘ahhh isn’t she doing well, how brave’ quick but properly fast. Otherwise you’ll get smashed by anyone from one of the 60 plus nations that attend the Games who will pole up and pee all over your sporting bonfire. Now, it may not be entirely their own pee depending on the transplant they have had, but it will have a dampening effect on your medal prospects all the same.

This remarkable team is entirely self funded – there is no financial support from the Lottery, British Cycling, UK sport or anybody else. Riders have to find (where they can) generous individuals and companies who are prepared to put their hands in their pockets to fund training, travelling and equipment costs or simply pay for themselves if they can afford it. It’s not a moan, it’s just the way it is – The team are all embracing and enjoying a second chance at life. Money? Secondary. Health and life? Everything.

The simple pleasure of being well enough to ride a bike is appreciated all the more in our circumstances. Extend that a little further and imagine the thrill of not just riding but racing: racing for your country in red, white and blue: racing to become a world champion against the best the rest of the world has to offer. Exciting and, dare I say, inspirational stuff.     

Much of what the team lacks in funding is made up for in goodwill, help and support. Looking round the training session yesterday, their were 2 sport and exercise scientists, a Level 3 cycling coach and a cycling specific psychologist supporting the team. This is more than some pro teams have access to – it’s just being done via people who volunteer their valuable time to help out. You could be forgiven for thinking, given our transplanted status, that people had already given enough couldn’t you?

I’ll update on the team’s progress as we head towards the games but, if the above has sparked your interest there are a few things you might like to consider taking a look at

1.       Pete Hudson is our cycling psychologist – take some time off our time trial by getting your mental approach right, it’s worked for us. http://www.cyclotherapy.org/ 

2.       Despite saying it’s not about the money we do have Just Giving page to help fund the trip to S.A should anybody feel the urge. Don’t hold back... :)  http://www.justgiving.com/GBtransplantcyclingteam

3.       If you are interested in reading more about transplant cycling have a look at either the e-version or paperback of ReCycled. http://www.amazon.co.uk/ReCycled-Richard-Smith/dp/1781764891/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1353331791&sr=8-1 

4.       Finally and most importantly, please have a think about signing the Organ Donor Register.  

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