Skip to Content
Streetsblog New York City home
Streetsblog New York City home
Log In
Streetsblog

Washington State Lawmaker: Cyclists Cause Pollution By Exhaling

false

We've heard some silly arguments against cycling before, but this one from Washington State Representative Ed Orcutt... well, it speaks for itself.

Orcutt, who is a supporter of the proposed tax on bicycles in Washington, told a constituent that cyclists should be taxed because they cause pollution with "an increased heart rate and respiration."

Tom Fucoloro at Seattle Bike Blog got in touch with Orcutt this weekend and he didn't back away from his comments one bit:

“You would be giving off more CO2 if you are riding a bike than driving in a car,” he said. However, he said he had not “done any analysis” of the difference in CO2 from a person on a bike compared to the engine of a car (others have).

“You can’t just say that there’s no pollution as a result of riding a bicycle.”

Orcutt has a few other brilliant ideas about transportation, Fucoloro reports:

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from Streetsblog New York City

MTA Demands Albany Deal With Toll Evasion Already

A new analysis of toll evasion found that the amount of money owed by drivers who don't pay paper toll invoices has more than doubled since 2022, from $147 million in unpaid tolls to nearly $350 million.

March 12, 2026

Hochul’s Car Insurance Plan Blows Fraud Way Out Of Proportion: Stats

Gov. Hochul's proposal to lower car insurance premiums is built on suspected fraud. But a body of evidence reveals that there really is very little.

March 12, 2026

Memo to Mamdani: Make This Summer’s World Cup A Car-Free Paradise

Mayor Mamdani should bring the city's joyful, global football culture out onto the streets.

March 12, 2026

Thursday’s Headlines: Another Outlet Heard From Edition

We're not so full of ourselves that we can't praise other outlets. Plus other news.

March 12, 2026

Trump’s Funding Freeze Has Derailed Transit, Undermining Growth and Economic Opportunity For All Americans: Report

American cities used to have some of the longest per-capita rail networks in the world. Not anymore.

March 11, 2026
See all posts