Come January, people who like to bike will get a little help to keep their two-wheeled, emissions-free rides in shape, the New York Times reported last week. Thanks to Oregon Rep. Earl Blumenauer, the now-famous (or is it infamous?) $700 billion bailout bill contained a provision allowing cyclists a $20 per month credit for bike maintenance, repair and even purchasing.

Blumenauer himself bikes to his office on Capitol Hill every day and his home district of Portland is one of the most bike-friendly cities in the country. Blumenauer, who for years has pushed for such a provision, was actually forced to vote against the bike benefit because he opposed the larger bailout bill. But, alas, it passed anyway.

Of course, as the Times astutely noted, "The $20 bike benefit, should employers actually make the effort to create a program for their cycle commuters, compares rather poorly to the $115 mass-transit benefit already available, or the subsidies nearly double that aimed at helping those who drive to work."