The Italian Government subsidizes bicycle purchases

For the first time in Europe a government started handing out direct incentives for the purchase of a bicycle or e-Bike. The Italian government, through the Ministry for the Environment, started an incentive scheme which contributes to a maximum of 30% of the retail price of a bicycle or e-Bike. The maximum amount is €700 which is for a bike that retails for € 2,330. This is on average the retail price of a high-end electric bicycle.

At first glance, it sounds like a longshot for the USA to follow suit. But with a nation of fatties, we are at a kind of crossroads. If we were to subsidize bicycles here, people would lose weight. Otherwise, the fatties will buckle our health care system.

Arcata airport services smaller planes only. Recently, we've seen flights delayed while the airlines struggled with "weight limits." A single gigantic passenger caused the last such "crisis." I have a friend who is a nurse. You don't want to hear the stories she tells about emergency room fatties, some of whom literally look like they are about to burst.

We should follow Italy's lead. Bike infrastructure coupled with bike safety (see below) investments would be a really smart move for us.