Government Incentives

[True Saxon]

Before christmas i recieved an email at work regarding a ride to work scheme by the government and my employer.
Basically it meant i would receive a bike at trade price (roughly 50% of rrp + VAT) and would pay for it over two years, the monthly premium being deducted from my basic wage ie before tax. Meaning more savings.. any way, i enquired about the scheme (hoping i could get a canfield frame) but was told it was only with certain retailers.. bike hut being one of them... hmm stab supreme anyone? (this was months before fish got his btw).. anyway i heard nothing more so i asked the question again..
Basically, the person who would deal with this hasnt the time to set the scheme up...
how pathetic.... anyway thats all in the past now and i am liking my new ride...

but it leads to the question:
If the government are trying to encourage people to use "green" transport, surely they should subsudise it slightly. fe: Pay no VAT
The same should apply to safety equipment helmets etc..

I am not sure if the governments plan to make it illegal for anyone under 16 to ride a bike without a helmet has been approved (think about it.... how would it be enforced), in fact i dont think it has.
Isnt this just another way of making money?

encourage people to ride bikes, then issue laws that will bring in more revinue if not abbided?

starting to think this is a bit of a pointless moan on my count, but i will post it anyway...

[Ben]

:p see where your coming from though sime :p

its funny, i heard a bit about this helmet law, the interesting bit is that a certain Halfords are sponsering and backing the idea (dollar signs in eyes gusture :hmm: :badmood: :p )

not thats its a bad idea though, i mean their is a point to this govenment sceme (unlike others:cool: :filthy: ) and.. i suppose it will efectivly save lives. but then the majority of 16 year old cyclists would make this gesture

:fu: :fu: :fu: to anyone 'cramping thier style' :p :p :p :) you know the kind of people i mean ;)

[mr fish]

already you don't pay vat on lids ;) ta gordon brown

[True Saxon]

are you sure about that? for how long?

[True Saxon]

i stand corrected, 2001 was the year..