Yan proposes bike-to-work rebate

Wellington, October 11 (JY&A Media/Push PR) Wellington City mayoral candidate Jack Yan is floating the idea of an incentive for employers who promote riding their bikes to work.

The IRS in the United States presently offers a $20 per month ‘qualified bicycle commuting reimbursement’ to employers. This money is to be used to reimburse ‘reasonable expenses incurred by the employee for the purchase of a bicycle and bicycle improvements, repair, and storage if the bicycle is regularly used for travel between the employee's residence and place of employment.’

Mr Yan says he'd seek to work with Inland Revenue Department, the City Council's officers, the Regional Council, employers and NGOs to see a similar scheme implemented in Wellington.

‘Presently, if you take the bus to work in Wellington, you pay a subsidized fare. Those who ride their bike to work, however, don't receive any subsidy. If we want to look at getting people out of their cars, we need to think outside the box, but also recognize that we don't have a monopoly on good ideas.

‘This may well be one of those instances where paying a small up-front cost may result in greater savings being realized later. I would seek to work with the Council’s officers to identify the effects such a policy would have on transportation choices and see whether the respective tiers of government could make savings from an upfront subsidy,’ Mr Yan says.
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