Refusing to pay for negligible damage

As a cyclist, I am insulted by James F. Vesely's assertion that by refusing to support a license fee for my bicycle, I fail to acknowledge my "role in the continued maintenance of our city and region" ["Unabashed joy in cycling with a license," editorial column, Feb. 1].

It is Vesely who refuses to acknowledge the basic facts of our local transportation-tax policy. Our city's streets are paid for primarily through sales and property taxes -- taxes we all pay.

Furthermore, bicycles inflict negligible damage upon public roads. The same could not be said for Vesely's car. Perhaps it's time for guys like Vesely to pay their fair share for transportation infrastructure and stop trying to get a free ride on the back of my bike.

-- Doug Nellis, Seattle

A petty proposal

Please give the bicycle-license idea a rest. In his response to James F. Vesely's first column ["No free rides: It's time for $25 bike fees," Dec. 7], David Hiller of the Cascade Bicycle Club already eloquently explained what a bad idea this is ["Encourage biking, don't tax it," guest columnist, Dec. 13].

While bank CEOs give themselves bonuses at taxpayer expense, your attack on cyclists -- a group that does a lot of good for society -- seems petty and unprofessional.

Why don't you dust off your old Schwinn cruiser and go for a ride around Green Lake?

-- Demian Godon, Seattle