Rep. Ed Orcutt responds, apologizes for 'confusing' email about bicyclists and CO2

[Newsjock]

http://bikeportland.org/2013/03/04/rep-ed-orcutt-responds-apologizes-for-email-confusion-83716

As you probably know by now, Washington State Representative Ed Orcutt has gained national notoriety for his comments that bicycling pollutes the environment. Before running our story on Saturday, I contacted Rep. Orcutt for a clarification about his comments. This morning I heard back. In an email Orcutt admits his comments were "over the top." Read the full email below:

... First of all, let me apologize for the carbon emissions line of an e-mail which has caused so much concern within the bicycle community. It was over the top and I admit is not one which should enter into the conversation regarding bicycles.

Although I have always recognized that bicycling emits less carbon than cars, I see I did a poor job of indicating that within my e-mail. My point was that by not driving a car, a cyclist was not necessarily having a zero-carbon footprint. In looking back, it was not a point worthy of even mentioning so, again, I apologize – both for bringing it up and for the wording of the e-mail.

... Again, I do apologize for the carbon line in the e-mail and any confusion it has created. I look forward to working on reasonable solutions to the problems cyclists are having with infrastructure.

[htuttle]

1. I think he means 'confused', not confusing

[bluedigger]

2. IOW, "I got my ass handed to me".

[rurallib]

4. could have saved a lot of words by saying "I Lied"

[bluedigger]

5. That would indicate actual knowledge of the facts.

[GodlessBiker]

3. Idiot.

[bmbmd]

6. On the bright side,

he learned a little something. That's unusual for a congress critter.

[rustydog]

7. This "backpedaling" brought to you by Big Oil PAC of Washington

[exboyfil]

8. Yes I am sure they did not like

the analysis that showed it was 10 to 20 times more CO2 efficient to bike than drive. Folks were proposing a comparable tax structure based on carbon emissions. It would be worth the tax on bikes to get a comparable tax on automobiles based on carbon emissions.