Oh my gosh! It can’t be true. No way. It defies common sense. Not a chance. It’s too unbelievable. People will think I’m crazy if I tell them that I read in the paper that U.S. House members can be reimbursed for expenses, with taxpayer dollars, without the need to provide receipts. Ha, ha. That is just too far-fetched for anyone to believe. And get this: The article also says that this is allowed instead of raising the representatives’ salaries. So I guess that means members of Congress can raise their own “salaries” to whatever they want by grossing up their unverified expenses. Come on. That just can’t be the case.
Michael Braman, Minneapolis
Reading the article regarding Minnesota’s e-bike rebate program on June 4, I was surprised to learn of the state’s need to subsidize a thriving market that “in recent years … has exploded globally” (”E-bike rebates coming Wednesday could put a charge into sales”). Erik’s reports that about 20,000 e-bikes were sold in Minnesota last year.
While the budgeted outlay of $2 million per year will only serve about 1,500 lucky e-bike buyers annually, I cannot be the only bicyclist who thinks this state-funded e-bike promotion is misguided and almost immoral.
First and foremost, any number of social programs providing food assistance, health care or special needs housing would demonstrate a better use of these funds. Where did this financial need for e-bikers come from?
And, most amazing to me, this subsidy is not really for bicycle riders.
My wife and I enjoy touring Minneapolis and St. Paul streets and the metro’s wonderful system of bike trails. In recent years there has been a huge increase in the proportion of electric-powered vehicles on public trails — motorized bicycles, boards and scooters. E-bikes are not bicycles in any traditional sense, and their drivers generally don’t act like traditional bicyclists. Where’s the workout factor? I don’t buy the argument that electric power only augments a good workout and facilitates a longer ride. Not to mention the sustainability issue with battery power.
Most e-bikes are essentially a moped dressed up like a bicycle.
We had an e-bike for many years when e-bikes were still a novelty. My wife took it to work occasionally since we live close to her employment, and I enjoyed its power boost when tackling difficult biking terrain on a solo ride.
But a common encounter with an e-biker on a public trail is the surprising swish of a bike passing close on our left side with no advance warning, the driver effortlessly cruising along without the usual bell tone or “on your left” advisory, which is common courtesy. This is annoying because it is unsafe not to know of the close approach of riders from behind, especially ones moving unusually fast.
