Roundabouts

"Just zis Guy, you know?" wrote:
On Mon, 06 Feb 2012 23:34:42 +0000, Bruce
wrote:
If you are going to correct other people, you really should make just
a little effort to find out what its official name is:

"Motor Vehicle Licence".

I think you'll find it's actually called Vehicle Excise Duty.


The disc is the Motor Vehicle Licence.

What you pay for it is the Vehicle Excise Duty.

On 05/02/2012 20:10, Mizter T wrote:

On Feb 5, 7:04 pm, Neil wrote:

On Feb 5, 6:53 pm, (Paul Cummins)
wrote:

it needs Road Tax.

Doubt it - that hasn't existed since the 1930's

Slightly pedantic in that something similar exists, albeit into
general taxation and instead called Vehicle Excise Duty.

There's been a bit of a campaign of late of people trying to stop - or
at least challenge - VED being automatically referred to as 'Road Tax'
- the thinking being that it creates a sense of entitlement amongst
some of those who pay it that they do 'own the road' (or at least pay
for it - or sentiments along those lines) - said campaign has support
of Edmund King of the RAC Foundation.

(Though, FWIW, the ASA are quite happy with usage of 'Road Tax' as
shorthand for VED.)

Road tax is the term in common usage. The 'Man on the Clapham Omnibus'
would understand it.

Cyclists don't like the term Road Tax because it reminds them that they
are sponging freeloaders.

--
Dave - Cyclists VOR. "Many people barely recognise the bicycle as a
legitimate mode of transport; it is either a toy for children or a
vehicle fit only for the poor and/or strange," Dave Horton - Lancaster
University

On 07/02/2012 07:26, Just zis Guy, you know? wrote:
On Sun, 5 Feb 2012 11:04:38 -0800 (PST), Neil Williams
wrote:

On Feb 5, 6:53 pm, (Paul Cummins)
wrote:
We were about to embark at Dover, when (Dave -
Cyclists VOR) came up to me and whispered:

it needs Road Tax.

Doubt it - that hasn't existed since the 1930's

Slightly pedantic in that something similar exists, albeit into
general taxation and instead called Vehicle Excise Duty.

But based on emissions. A cyclist pays exactly the same rate of VED as
any other low / zero emission vehicle.

If you really believe its based on emissions, I have a multi level
marketing opportunity you may be interested in. Its not pyramid
selling, honest.



--
Dave - Cyclists VOR. "Many people barely recognise the bicycle as a
legitimate mode of transport; it is either a toy for children or a
vehicle fit only for the poor and/or strange," Dave Horton - Lancaster
University

"Just zis Guy, you know?" wrote:

On Sun, 5 Feb 2012 11:04:38 -0800 (PST), Neil Williams
wrote:

On Feb 5, 6:53*pm, (Paul Cummins)
wrote:
We were about to embark at Dover, when (Dave -
Cyclists VOR) came up to me and whispered:

it needs Road Tax.

Doubt it - that hasn't existed since the 1930's

Slightly pedantic in that something similar exists, albeit into
general taxation and instead called Vehicle Excise Duty.

But based on emissions. A cyclist pays exactly the same rate of VED as
any other low / zero emission vehicle.


Clever. ;-)

All we need now is to get them have number plates and compulsory
insurance and submit their vehicles to annual MOTs, and of course take
a driving test, and they will become accepted members of society.

On 06/02/2012 23:22, Paul Cummins wrote:
We were about to embark at Dover, when (Dave -
Cyclists VOR) came up to me and whispered:

Q: Can you drive (the majority) of cars on the road, without
paying a specific extra tax, commonly known as 'Road Tax'?

It is not commonly known as Road Tax, it is commonly known as Car Tax.

You can have as many cars as you like, you only pay 'Road Tax' if you
wish to use them on the 'Road'.

Moreover, it is not a tax.

Sounds like one to any normal person. Allow me to explain in terms a
cyclist might understand;


See John paying Income Tax, NI & VAT.
See Janet paying exactly the same Income Tax, NI & VAT.

See John buy a shiny new pushbike.
See Janet buy a shiny new car - but not one of the very few exceptions
to Road Tax.

See John ride his new pushbike on public roads without paying a specific
extra tax.
John likes his new pushbike.

John has a new pair of lycra bib shorts.
See John searching for the pockets.

John can’t find any pockets, but its OK because cyclists never put their
hands in them.

See PC Plod telling Janet she can't use her new car on the road unless
she has Road Tax.

PC Plod uses the term Road Tax because everyone knows what it means.

Janet knows what Road Tax is. It’s a specific extra tax.

Janet knows her shiny new car could be crushed if she doesn’t pay Road Tax.

John pretends not to know what Road Tax is - because he is a sponging
freeloader.

See Janet going to the Post Office with a large amount of cash.

Mr Stamp at the Post Office knows exactly what Janet means when she asks
for Road Tax.

Janet pays lots of money to Mr Stamp for her Road Tax Disc.

See Janet drive her car on the road without having to worry about PC
Plod and his ANPR cameras.



--
Dave - Cyclists VOR. "Many people barely recognise the bicycle as a
legitimate mode of transport; it is either a toy for children or a
vehicle fit only for the poor and/or strange," Dave Horton - Lancaster
University

On 05/02/2012 20:11, Mizter T wrote:

On Feb 5, 7:37 pm, wrote:

Martin D. wrote:
[...]
Which is why I have maintained for many years that all drivers
should be subject to retaking a driving test, say every 10 years,
to ensure (as best as can reasonably be done, anyway) that their
driving skills haven't deteriorated into routine bad habits and
that their knowledge of the relevant laws and codes remains
up-to-date.

Driving is a privilege, not a right, and should only be granted
to those able to demonstrate on a regular basis that they have
the necessary skillset, mental acuity and physical ability to
safely operate a ton or thereabouts of metal travelling at
anything up to (legally!) 70mph in the immediate vicinity of very
many other similar lumps of fast-moving metal.

And no, I don't drive

You don't say. ;-)

Does that invalidate his point?


According to Cyclologic (TM) it does. Anyone who isn't a cyclist is
unable to comment on cycling.


--
Dave - Cyclists VOR. "Many people barely recognise the bicycle as a
legitimate mode of transport; it is either a toy for children or a
vehicle fit only for the poor and/or strange," Dave Horton - Lancaster
University

On 07/02/2012 07:26, Just zis Guy, you know? wrote:
On Sun, 5 Feb 2012 11:04:38 -0800 (PST), Neil Williams
wrote:

On Feb 5, 6:53 pm, (Paul Cummins)
wrote:
We were about to embark at Dover, when (Dave -
Cyclists VOR) came up to me and whispered:

it needs Road Tax.

Doubt it - that hasn't existed since the 1930's

Slightly pedantic in that something similar exists, albeit into
general taxation and instead called Vehicle Excise Duty.

But based on emissions. A cyclist pays exactly the same rate of VED as
any other low / zero emission vehicle.


Vegetarian cyclists should pay more then.


--
Graeme Wall
This account not read, substitute trains for rail.
Railway Miscellany at http://www.greywall.demon.co.uk/rail

On Feb 7, 12:37*am, Bruce wrote:

To be strictly correct, it is a duty.

To most people, "duty" is a subset of "tax", where a "tax" would to
most be defined as a charge made by the state for or in connection
with something that isn't directly related to a specific provision of
an individual product or service by the state.

Neil

On Feb 7, 9:48*am, Jeff wrote:

* I was referring to your definition that a cycle was "an adjunct to
perambulation", *if it were cycling would be allowed on footpaths. which
it is not.

I thought the term was an "aid to pedestrianism". But I equally agree
that it is not now quite true.

Neil

On Feb 7, 9:54*am, Graeme Wall wrote:

Vegetarian cyclists should pay more then.

A tax on cans of baked beans?

Neil