Right now, many Americans who bike to work for a substantial part of the month can recoup up to $240 each year in tax benefits. It's a small but meaningful way for the federal government to encourage cycling.

But if some in the Senate get their way, that pro-bike gesture could soon disappear. (Keep up with the latest cycling news by subscribing to our newsletter!)

The latest tax bill put forth by Senate Republicans includes the elimination of the Bicycle Commuter Act, which reimburses commuter cyclists for expenses of up to $20 a month. That money can go toward the purchase of helmets, bike locks, and other items, as well as larger payments over time—paying off a new bike, for example.

"For some reason, the voters of this bill want to eliminate a not-costly benefit that has many other positive benefits associated with it," said Ken McLeod, policy director at the League of American Bicyclists, a Washington, D.C.-based advocacy group.

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The tax benefit, which went into law in 2009, costs the federal government about $5 million a year. Employers are not required to offer the benefit, but may choose to do so. Neither the employer nor the employee are taxed on payroll or income for the reimbursement.

Cyclists aren't the only commuters eligible for a federal tax benefit. People who drive to work can get up to $255 a month to put toward parking. Yet under the Senate plan, bicycling is the only transportation-related benefit targeted for elimination.

"I don't know why this is the target," McLeod said. "We think if one benefit is touched, all should be touched. If not, we're going to fight hard to keep it in, or get it back in, so that bicyclists can benefit just like every transportation user."

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The bill is currently in the Senate Finance Committee. If it passes both the committee and the Senate floor, it will likely go to conference with an approved House tax plan. Currently, the House proposal does not include elimination of the benefit.

"The bike commuter benefit can either be reinstated through an amendment in the Senate or when the House and Senate bills are reconciled in conference," McLeod said. "We’ll be looking for every avenue to reinstate the benefit and ensure that it survives conference."

Over the weekend, the League of American Bicyclists called on its members to reach out to Congress and speak against the elimination of the benefit. Around 1,200 people contacted the Senate Finance Committee, McLeod said.

Whether the Senate will approve the current version of its tax bill is still an open question. Though numerous deadlines have been given, President Trump has said that he hopes to have the plan finalized and approved by Thanksgiving or the end of the year.

Here are a few things we wish drivers would do to make the streets a little safer for cyclists:

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