AA President applauds iPayRoadTax.com campaign

yes, the A4 has just such a canyon as it leaves Bath, even though the edge of the road is to some degree protected from breaking up by a kerb - that's the only way for HGVs to get out of Bath and up to the M4 and the camber of the road also forces more of the lorries' weight on the the kerbside. I 've also noticed the road edge breaking down over the winter on roads with unprotected edges and high lorry use, in some cases it's crumbling away pretty fast.

sorry, 0.4p

The fourth power rule is the more accepted one worldwide. Even so, if bikes (40kg axle weight) paid £1, cars (600kg axle weight) would pay £50,000 and lorries (2000kg axle weight) would pay £6.25m. Given a more reasonable tax of say £200 for a car, lorries should be paying £25k and bikes 4p

@Peter Scott - those are some startling figures on road wear caused by vehicles! But it still seems that road condition is affected more by the weather than by the type of traffic - the construction of large numbers of our roads in the UK simply doesn't stand up to the rain, freezing and thawing we get, which opens up great big holes everywhere throughout the winter. I guess the type of vehicle travelling over the already damaged surface has a significant effect on wear after the holes of formed, but the construction methods and weather effect cant be ignored.

Of course, since vehicle excise duty doesn't pay for roads, this is (or at least should be) irrelevant to taxation. But if emissions are the key driver for taxation, then maybe we should install actual emissions meters on motor vehicles - that way, drivers would be actively encouraged to drive more sensibly in order to reduce their emissions.

Could it be the Politicians decided to try and change people's choice of vehicle habits by dangling the "Carrot"?
Getting people to think about pollution is all that can be done just now but a new government might consider "paying cyclists" to ride to work during "Rush Hour"! Fixed Hours on the Bus Lanes/Clearways might be a guide to the periods eligible! Clocking in machines of a sort would be needed for verification but bet that many motorists would be looking to benefit!
Healthier employees would pay dividends for the employers as well.
Many more ideas on my blog www.parrabuddy.blogspot.com
Today the Paralympic Games start in Vancouver take the time to check TV Networks to see the action LIVE ! Many of these Amazing Athletes served YOU and their nation in "Harm's Way" so deserve your attention and respect as they set out once again to compete on your behalf.

Yes, I agree. Motorcycles should not be charged VED. Though I wouldn't want to see noisy, locally polluting, two-stroke engined bikes exempt.

Cat - I know about the rule changes but it still begs the question why users of low fuel consumption motorcycles should have to pay VED either. My old bike used less fuel than that Ford Fiesta, took up less space and also caused less road wear. If I bought another one like it, I'd still have to pay VED. Something like a Honda C90 Cub is about as low impact a powered vehicle you can buy and yet it doesn't dodge VED, why?

These are new rules since May 2009. Cars such this Ford Fiesta pay zero VED.

Cat - that's debatable. I pay vehicle excise duty for my motorbike. It takes up less space on the road and causes significantly less road wear than my car, yet the difference in cost isn't as great as you'd think. And it takes up a lot less space and causes a lot less road wear than a so-called green car. My previous motorbike was very fuel efficient, still had to pay vehicle excise duty on that too.

And if cyclists were liable for Vehicle Excise Duty, then we still wouldn't have to pay, since the least polluting models of car don't pay anything.

'I pay vehicle excise duty' doesn't quite have the same snap to it.