Take Action: Commuter Benefits for All

Under current law people who drive to work get almost twice the parking benefit as transit riders get for transit.

It’s time for Congress to respect ALL commuters. Starting this past January, transit benefits slipped from $245 a month to $130, and parking benefits increased from $245 to $250. Meanwhile, the bike benefit stayed at $20 a month — but under a current bill in the U.S. House of Representatives, the bike benefit would be repealed all together.

HR 2288: The Commuter Parity Act would permanently fix these issues, by making both the transit pre-tax benefit and the parking pre-tax benefit $220 a month. HR 2288 would also increase the bike benefit to $35 a month. It would also make bike share memberships eligible for the bike benefit.

S.1116: The Commuter Benefits Equity Act, the companion bill in the Senate also removes the disparity from transit and parking benefits, and keeps the bike benefit the same. Another Senate bill, The EXPIRE ACT, adds in a commuter benefit for bike share users. 
 
Why should bicyclists care about transit? Successful transit depends on safe biking and walking near the stations. But biking and walking also benefit from transit through reduced congestion on our roads to providing options for longer trips and other transportation options when you choose not to bike.
 
Please ask your member of Congress to co-sponsor both HR 2288: The Commuter Parity Act, and HR 5276: The Bike to Work Act! Take action now!