Bike Seattle
State Rep. Ed Orcutt reportedly told a Tacoma bike shop owner in an email that he believes bicyclists actually pollute when they ride. (AP Photo/File)

Rep. Orcutt says bicycles aren't environmentally friendly

BY MyNorthwest.com  on March 4, 2013 @ 5:43 am (Updated: 3:47 pm - 3/5/13 )

We've heard from drivers that bicyclists blow through stop signs and red lights and that they get all the benefits of using the roads without paying for them. But we've never heard that bikes are bad for the environment, until now.

Last week, House Democrats announced their proposals to raise more tax money for transportation projects, including phasing in a 10-cent per gallon gas tax increase. Rep. Ed Orcutt of Kalama, the top Republican on the House Transportation Committee was among the Republicans opposed to it.

He opposed it in part because he thinks we should find ways to build roads cheaper. "In some cases, we're two, two-and-a-half times as much for similar projects to what's being paid in other states," said Orcutt.

But it turns out Orcutt is not opposed to all transportation taxes. He does support the proposed bicycle tax which would require everyone who buys a bike worth more than $500 to pay a $25 fee.

Defending an idea to tax some bicycle owners $25 to pay for the roads, Orcutt told a Tacoma bike shop owner in an email last week that he believes bicyclists actually pollute when they ride.

The email stated bike riders put out CO2 as they ride because of their increased breathing - which means bike riding isn't as environmentally friendly as people think.

Read the email

Orcutt apologized for the comment on Monday, but he didn't retract his claim that cyclists contribute to climate change with their "increased heart rate and respiration." He did admit it was inflated language.

Orcutt told KIRO Radio's Dori Monson his email was "poorly worded" and "off the cuff."

Orcutt says the truth however, is that bike riding reduces emissions by 90 percent, but not entirely.

"That's the study that I saw on the Seattle Bicycle blog," Orcutt told Dori. "That's higher than I would imagine."

Orcutt said his comments weren't meant as any disrespect for bicyclists, who are doing their part to reduce greenhouse gases.

"They're riding in the rain, heat, wind," he said. "That's how passionate they are about reducing CO2 emissions."

Regardless of the CO2 emissions, Orcutt still feels that bicyclists sharing the roads with cars should pay their fair share. "My feeling is if we are going to take money out of the transportation account for things dedicated to bicycles, it would make sense for them to pay some of that."

A brief search for the emissions of bicyclists on the Seattle Bike Blog (not Seattle bicycle blog) only found a recent post that referred to this story from BikePortland.org.

A report by KIRO Radio's Chris Sullivan and Seattle's Morning News host Dave Ross.

MyNorthwest.com, Staff report
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Comments (51)


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  • soo purletiv wrote...
    Since when
    March 4, 2013 6:38 am
    has CO2 been listed as environmentally unsafe?

    Quick! Everybody: Let's all do our part. Hold your breath for 10 minutes.

    CH, you go first!

    No cheating.

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • soo purletiv wrote...
    @ mynorthwest.com (Chris Sullivan)
    March 4, 2013 6:38 am
    Just wondering; aren't you supposed to blur out the license plate on photos like the one above?

    Or is there an exception if it is a stock photo?

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Ghog wrote...
    Co2?
    March 4, 2013 7:16 am
    Really? I mean, Really, Really?!! I woke up this morning thinking I was in my own country but after reading the news this morning... Well, not just this morning but, really! What country did I wake up in? It seems to be ruled by idiots! I mean ALL AROUND! If you want to TAX bike riders then make them get a lil itty bitty plate on the back they can attach top the back of the seat like thy made us do when I was a kid and charge them 25 bucks a year for it... Don't blow stupid smoke up our back side to get it. If anyone is polluting our air with foul breath it is the politicians with ideas like that! I guess it was Dino farts that killed THEM off too huh!
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Ted Bundi wrote...
    "... make them get a lil itty bitty plate on the back they can attach top the back of the seat like thy made us do when..."
    March 4, 2013 12:43 pm
    Why exempt bikes from a plate up front as well?
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Ricoli wrote...
    Co2
    March 4, 2013 6:06 pm
    Ghog above, stole my thunder. Well said. I maintain we should hold public executions for most politicians.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • newsguysully wrote...
    Good call
    March 4, 2013 8:51 am
    I didn't post this picture. The web team found it to go with my story. Will work on it. thx
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • USMC0311 wrote...
    Why?
    March 4, 2013 9:02 am
    I never understood the whole blocking out the license plate thing. Thousands of people see your LP every time you go out driving.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • ChartryC wrote...
    Stinky
    March 4, 2013 7:12 am
    Not only CO2 but also farts, at least when you drive your car we can leave the windows up, but those riding let it go free into our noses, thanks a lot.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • NoElephants wrote...
    As A Cyclist
    March 4, 2013 7:13 am
    I'd be more than happy to pay a fee for using the roads, trails, etc. It's only fair. However, it's comments like those from Rep. Orcutt that really make people want to replace both sides of the political isle. What a complete jagoff.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • shark75 wrote...
    Idling cars equals increased pollution
    March 4, 2013 7:13 am
    When you remove roads and replace them with bike lanes, you increase congestion and slow traffic down. So yes, bicycles do cause pollution...
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • messiah101 wrote...
    sharky,Your so STUPID
    March 4, 2013 7:40 am
    Hey dummie each bike represents a vehicle eliminated from the enormous amount of congestion we already have.You anti bike types give the word stupid a new meaning
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • calapete wrote...
    Congrats to Rep Orcutt
    March 4, 2013 8:03 am
    For being the biggest idiot in Olympia. Wow.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Drool wrote...
    I Bet.....
    March 4, 2013 8:31 am
    ...this guy thinks the Earth is 6000 years old too.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • ron prevost wrote...
    Hey, I don't care if Ed Orcutt believes in unicorns, TAX THE BIKES>
    March 4, 2013 9:03 am
    Better yet, instead of taxing the value the bikes, figure a way to tax the EGOS of the cyclists. ..... PLUS, enforce the laws. Maybe $50 for running a stop sign. $100 for 'owning' the sidewalk and $500 for riding 3 wide in the middle of the road and flipping off every car behind them. ..... Heck, we might make more than a few bucks from Mayor McSchwinn himself.

    BTH - if scientists can tell up that a herd of cows contributes to global warming (methane) why is it so far fetched to think that heavy breathing can't do the same thing ? :-)

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • ron prevost wrote...
    OOPS - maybe heavy petting or
    March 4, 2013 9:36 am
    a torrid night in the sack can cause global warming, too.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • maplefish wrote...
    Too much breathing???These people become more pathetic each & every day
    March 4, 2013 9:19 am
    Both sides of the aisle. OK - make cyclists pay, but please, these idiots have the audacity to say that expelling extra CO2 from breathing to hard causes Global Warming? COME ON??? This is what these eF ing idiots have come up with to increase tax revenue's? Does anybody with a frigging brain really buy this? PLEASE PEOPLE? Just imagine how badly the earth must be damaged by Seahawks games with all that breathing and screaming fans??? I cannot believe people actually by into this totally Bulllshiit!!!
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • ron prevost wrote...
    Careful, maplefish. that is what scientists are telling us about the cows
    March 4, 2013 9:34 am
    Bulllshitt.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • shark75 wrote...
    Yes Maplefish
    March 4, 2013 11:30 am
    Too much breathing. We learned it from the people that want to tax/ban steak because cows fart too much CO2 and I think it was the same libtards that say your dog pooping in the forest will irreparably damage the ecosystem therefore you need to pack the dog's feces out with. Yes, breathing. I think its the think tank that Messiah101 would work for if he was just smart enough to trick someone into employing him...
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Angry Monkey wrote...
    The stupid..
    March 4, 2013 9:26 am
    it burns!!! OH GOD IT BURNS!

    As a cyclist, I have no problem with paying a bike tax or whatever, provided that money goes towards the creation and maintenance of bike lanes.

    That said, let's just call this what it really is. This is nothing more than a money grab by an elected official. God forbid should they reduce spending. Instead, they are going to try and find something else to tax.

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }