Prior to the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act made some changes to the treatment of qualified transportation fringe benefits (Section 132(f)), primarily making the employer costs non-deductible (Section 274(a)(4)), “qualified bicycle commuting reimbursement” was such a fringe benefit. That benefit was repealed for 8 years for some reason. It is not clear why it was repealed. I don’t believe its temporary repeal generated lots of revenue as it was as small fringe benefit (about $20 per month and only for 15 months per employee) and likely not offered by many employers or used by many employees.

The bicycle benefit covered the reasonable expenses of an employee for purchase of a bicycle, its improvements and repair and storage if regulary used by the employee to get from home to work and back.

Riding a bike to work isn’t an option for many workers who have long distances or unsafe routes or no biking option due to the need to use freeways to get to work. But for workers who can bike to work, isn’t that a benefit to many people? It means fewer cars on the road and less pollution. If there are already bike lanes available, better yet.

If a tax break is to be provided, why not offer a refundable credit for the purchase or a bike with reasonable cost limits and an income phase-out level?
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