The truth is that we do pay for roads and at a level that is commensurate with the amount of wear we are responsible for.
Gas and use taxes do not cover the cost of building and maintaining highways. I posted a link earlier that shows how much of each state's use fees/fuel taxes cover. In total it's about 50%. Much of the other 50% comes from the general fund that my income taxes go to. County and local roads are funded heavily through property taxes and ad valorem taxes.
And I just posted how my state funds it's roads, including county and city. No where NEAR 50% is from the general fund.
And how much of the road funds are diverted off for bike paths? In the metro area it's 12% of the road budget. How much do bicyclist's fees and taxes pay for that? Zero.
COUNTY ROAD FUNDS REVENUES July 1, 2018, to June 30, 2019 LOCAL GOVERNMENT REVENUE Property Taxes $13,533,417 County General Fund $53,794,559 Local Vehicle Registration & Gasoline Taxes $28,026,555 Interest Income $18,533,887 Development Fees $16,087,722 Other Local Receipts $35,614,270 Bond & Note Proceeds $7,469,649 $173,060,059
3 2019 Annual Report to the Legislative Assembly Authorized Use of Allocation to Counties (ORS 366.774) COUNTY ROAD FUNDS REVENUES July 1, 2018, to June 30, 2019 LOCAL GOVERNMENT REVENUE Property Taxes $13,533,417 County General Fund $53,794,559 Local Vehicle Registration & Gasoline Taxes $28,026,555 Interest Income $18,533,887 Development Fees $16,087,722 Other Local Receipts $35,614,270 Bond & Note Proceeds $7,469,649 $173,060,059 STATE GOVERNMENT REVENUE State Highway Fund $315,719,093 ODOT Fund Exchange Program $11,580,504 Other State Funds $16,544,916 $343,844,513 FEDERAL GOVERNMENT REVENUE US Forest Service Annual Distribution $32,049,416 Disaster Relief Funding $2,889,512 Other Federal $18,962,756 $53,901684 TOTAL ROAD FUNDS REVENUE Local $173,060,059 State $343,844,513 Federal $53,901,684 $570,806,256
Looking at the funding it looks like right around 70% of the state's county's road funds come from vehicular taxes and fees.
Well, that leaves 30% which is a far cry from the "zero" figure you used.
I said that bicycle taxes and fees paid for zero of the bike paths.
