SW Wash. lawmaker apologizes for bicyclist pollution comment
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OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) - A Washington state lawmaker apologized Monday for asserting in an email last week that bicyclists pollute the air with their heavy breathing.
But while Republican Rep. Ed Orcutt of Kalama, the ranking minority member of the House Transportation Committee, said that his statement was "not a point worthy of even mentioning," he didn't retract his claim that cyclists contribute to climate change with their "increased heart rate and respiration."
"What I was trying to say is bicyclists do have a lower footprint but not a zero footprint in relation to automobiles," Orcutt said. "I didn't close that thought out very well. It was poorly worded."
Orcutt's initial statement came in a response to an email sent to more than 30 state lawmakers from Dale Carlson, the owner of three South Sound-area bike stores. Carlson was upset about a proposal to create a $25 fee for all new bicycle purchases of $500 or more as part of a transportation revenue package.
Orcutt, a conservative who opposes most tax increases, told Carlson by email that cyclists should help pay for the upkeep and construction of roads.
In support of his view, he wrote that "the act of riding a bike results in greater emissions of carbon dioxide from the rider. Since CO2 is deemed to be a greenhouse gas and a pollutant, bicyclists are actually polluting when they ride."
Carlson said he appreciated Orcutt's subsequent apology, but said the lawmaker's views "still seems way out there."
"Cycling has so many positive attributes to society," Carlson said. "It should be encouraged and not discouraged."
Dr. Lonnie Thompson, a climatologist and glaciologist at The Ohio State University, called Orcutt's line of reasoning "crazy."
"We have to breathe whether we're riding a bike or not," said Thompson, who added that burning through a 12-gallon tank of gas releases 314 pounds of carbon dioxide into the air.
lol@larry, yeah well maybe they shoudl make the roads wide enough and clean the side of the roads they ride on too....just syain
lol well he is from washington state
Time to make bicyclists pay for their share of road use... fifty dollar license fee would do it.....and get the Police to start fining them for breaking traffic laws
This was the most ignorant thing this person could ever say. I can't believe he actually thought his comment was a smart thing to say. Please re-think and be aware of anything he proposes. He makes Washingtonians look bad.
Bike commuters should be required to register their bike and require INSURANCE.They can too cause an accident.
obviously he never exerts himself, slacker!
Well like rick santorum said ""We republicans will never get the smart people to vote for us""
Apparently they can't get them to run for office either...lolThis legislator obviously put his foot in his mouth and is trying to pull it out unsuccessfully. That being said, his point isnt wrong.... bicyclists use roads, paths, and even private property without asking, or paying for it. It is long past time that somone stood up and started forcing taxes on them instead of the lions share being put onto the rest of us that have been paying for years for the system of roads we have now.
How many bicycle paths were created using taxes reaped from bicyclists...... ZERO!
100% of the paths in the state of Oregon(can't speak for WA) are paid for by either grants, private donations....or in the case of the majority of them....DOT money, which is our taxes.
While i dont like they way this legislator came across with his position.......he hit the nail on the head as far as what to do about the underlying problem.
@Chris So it is fine with you to externalize the cost of the pollution you create, but it is not OK for someone to ride a bike on public streets without helping to support your oil addiction?
I think bicyclists should have plates on their bikes. That way, we can report them when they fail to follow road rules. For such a plate, they should pay a fee.Â
This guy needs to understand - we all emit CO2. He must have failed science.Â
Strange.
All I know is that's some retarded hair.
He is Right on!!.. I shared this on my timeline a few days ago with comments.. And I was an avid Cyclist at one time too!! Yep they need to pay there fair share for improvements and they need to be smarter about biking... not with headphones and cell phones stuck in their ears!!! and acting like they Are seen all the time.. Witnessed a Dumb accident in Seattle in late Dec.. The biker was not being Proactive at all on safety.. and ran right into the side of a car making a left!! The car could not see the bike and the bike could not see the car and the situation deemed the bike person to be more cautious but he was not! and clearly blamed the car for the accident.. both just went on there way with out talking..it out either.. Not serious fortunately! Then a half a block later the biker was talking out loud and cussing something and looking back at Us in the car.. We were just witnesses and would have stopped if they all had stopped too! So no!! Not picking up this Bill too from the lefts without a chance to vote on it!!! No taxes without representation!!..
I thought the new reference to Republicans being 'the party of stupid' wasn't very nice. May have to rethink that
Since CO2 was officilly classed as a polutant I have been waiting for the EPA to stop any strenuous activities and tax our exhalations. Then we can pass a law fining people for Lbs over desired weight. Deficit solved! ;)
Anybody with any brains would know it was a joke.
Cyclists use the road and should help pay for those roads just like everyone else.
Bikers have a right on the road just like everyone else. To make things fair rather than a bike tax a bicyclist should have to get an endorsement on their license. The sad reality is that grants and good will only go so far, and bike lanes need to be built. Gas taxes, and registration costs fund road maintenance and construction, and bikers have been getting off scot free forever. If you want to be considered as a viable means of transportation, pay to use the facilities like everyone else and follow the rules of the road. I commute to work, have a motorcycle endorsement, and look forward to the day I can bicycle to work. If that means I have to pay a flat rate to do so, show me where to send the check.
Okay, stupid comment and a ridiculously far reach...but still....
Bicyclists are expected to follow the rules of the road and share the road, they should also contribute to maintaining the road.  Obviously not to the level that auto drivers do, but why the heck should they get to be a pain in the ass and not have to pay for the privilege?
@Amy Wow.....PITA?  As a bike riding family we pay tax on 3 automobiles to maintain these roads and put in bike lanes. Now because we want to be a bit healthier and leave the car at home we are going to be charged for it?
@Amy they pay for the roads too.
Make them pay their fair share of the expense of all the bike lanes and other improvements on our roadways. They always preach "share the road" well they should share the expense of all the improvements!
@T Wong Share the road is the law, not a slogan.
@T Wong what do you mean? taxes pay for road, no insurance fees. otherwise they would be called the geico interstate highway.
Wow, cyclists with their pink panties in a wad. Who would of thought?
No really, what's the problem? Sounds like a typical comment from a teaparty republican. No one with any sense ever takes them seriously.
Who gives a BLEEP!
I did miss the part where he is the "ranking minority member of the House Transportation Committee". Is this a clear case where everyone was asleep when committee positions were handed out? Or is this a great example of how the Republican party is such a wash that they can't attract anyone who can get elected that isn't a complete fool?
ridiculous anyone would want him to apologize. How about demanding an apology from congress for miss spending? DO THAT STORY.
wow. I love cycling. I do it whenever i get the chance but if this guy gets his way, then I feel we'll have to also impose a fee on runners, sprinters, wrestlers and the like. Since those athletes are also putting out CO2 everyday in training and competitoin. This is something...just the other day I told someone that if government could charge us for the air we breath they would. BINGO! A clear case of nickel and diming but this is just my opinion.
Is this really the only "news" we can come up with? Good Lord.
Conservative science FAIL
I find it offensive that this is even making the news. Lighten up people! It's called sarcasm. Try it out sometime...it's actually quite fun.
What's the problem? Sound like a typical comment from a teaparty republican. No one with any sense ever takes them seriously.
Haha! True that!
You bike people have such thin skin, which won't help you much when you get squished by a truck and end up as a KATU breaking news report.
Leave Ed alone! That was so not worth mentioning!
Facebook spam.
I think that this man needs a good staffer with a better command of the language to help him keep his foot out of his mouth.
Marsh, couldn't agree with you more. You want real news watch RT News. http://rt.com/usa/
make them wear masks to keep from polluting the air! 0.o
To KATU and Wayne Lindberg: I think there's no more important news than exposing the ignorance and prejudice and incompetence of our elected officials!! High five, KATU!
@Marsha Whittington Abelman Too bad they never spend any time talking about all that ignorance and incompetence gushing out of the White House.
It was a joke! Lighten up for goodness sake.
He wasn't joking; he was making an ignorant statement. He's now trying to "backpedal" and distance himself from what he NOW realizes is an unpopular opinion. I made a joke - now THAT'S humor, which I doubt Orcutt or his supporters would recognize...
I think he's a little nutty.
He's still an idiot
Why would anyone care about a silly remark like this?
How about we fee the media for reporting on news that is not news? now go and do some real reporting KATU!!!!
@Wayne Lindberg Don't hold your breath.