Only in America: Don't breathe!
A Washington lawmaker claims bicyclists' exhalations are bad for the environment — and more in our collection of strange revelations about the nation
A proposed bicycle tax in Washington is a good idea, claimed Washington state Republican Ed Orcutt, because the two-wheeled vehicles wind up emitting more carbon dioxide than cars due to riders' "increased heart rate and respiration." You end up "giving off more CO2 if you are riding a bike than driving in a car," Orcutt said. "You can't just say that there's no pollution as a result of riding a bicycle." Orcutt, who conceded he had not "done any analysis" on his claim, later backed down, calling his statement "over the top."
Making sense of the week's political news, delivered every Wednesday
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
Join more than 350,000 subscribers and keep yourself informed with a selection of The Week’s most interesting, enlightening and entertaining stories - plus daily puzzles.
Join more than 350,000 subscribers and keep yourself informed with a selection of The Week’s most interesting, enlightening and entertaining stories - plus daily puzzles.
Samantha Rollins is TheWeek.com's news editor. She has previously worked for The New York Times and TIME and is a graduate of Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism.