Looming taxes on E-Bike sales threaten to put a damper on local bike shops

The Washington State Legislature is in the process of hammering out the  transportation budget, which is estimated to have a BILLION dollar shortfall over the next two years. according to Transportation Committee Chairman Senator Marko Liias.

Down in Olympia, both the House and Senate have each been working on their own respective bills aimed at addressing the funding gap to get things like highway infrastructure built and maintained… 

One provision in the Senate’s bill – which passed on Saturday – has raised alarms for folks in the business of selling E-Bikes.

Soundside host Libby Denkmann is joined by Seattle Bike Blog editor & founder, Tom Fucoloro to talk about why E-Bike shop owners aren't excited about the current proposal.

GUEST: Tom Fucoloro

RELATED LINKS:

• Already facing uncertainty from Trump’s tariff threats, an e-bike tax ‘would be awful’ for Washington’s struggling bike shops – Seattle Bike Blog
• State Budget Proposals Focus on Highway Expansion in Both Chambers - The Urbanist
• WA may be getting new highways — for cyclists | The Seattle Times 
• SB 5801 Washington State Legislature

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.