The Growing War on Cars and Continued Misuse of Gasoline Taxes

By Terri Hall l March 5, 2018

Americans should be celebrating the lower cost of driving between 2016 and 2017, but the tolls and taxes being imposed by government threaten to erase any gains motorists might have enjoyed.

According to a recent report by the U.S. Department of Transportation, Transportation Economic Trends of 2017, the number of miles traveled by Americans went up 7.9% since 2014 (17.3% since 2000) with a slight 2.2% drop in the overall cost of private transportation (including a .5% drop in the cost of buying a new or used vehicle and an 11.5% decrease in fuel costs). However, taxes on vehicles increased 2.1%, parking fees and tolls (imposed by government) rose 2.8%, and car maintenance and repair went up 1.7%. With car insurance spiking 6.2% and housing costs soaring 6%, these cost increases effectively erase any cost savings motorists experienced.

Several developments compound the frustration of motorists who can’t seem to cut a break. Many cities across America tilt left, politically, and they’ve declared war on cars and use gasoline taxes collected from motorists in order to erect impediments to driving through a variety of traffic calming and social engineering gimmicks.

For instance, in San Antonio, the city just broke ground on a 3-mile, $7.2 million bike lane and sidewalk expansion, which includes a 10-foot, two-way buffered bike lane, wider sidewalks and a 5-foot brick buffer (that looks like its own walking path) to protect bicyclists and pedestrians from autos. This is valuable space that could be used to expand the roadway for auto capacity that’s getting squandered on buffered bike lanes and walkways that less than 1% of travelers use to get around.........To Read More....