Maybe the dumbest thing a congressman has ever argued

In Washington, an atrocious omnibus transportation bill has been proposed, and one of the trivial but dumb provisions is a bicycle tax to pay contribute to the transportation budget. (See Ben Scheindelman here).
A Washington bike shop owner expresses his understandable concern about this provision, noting that (in addition to the harm to Washington businesses selling bikes) this is a poor idea because it disincentivizes an environmentally friendly form of transportation.
Bike Tax supporter Ed Orcutt (R-Kalama) explains why this assumption is not accurate:
"You claim that it is environmentally friendly to ride a bike. But if I am not mistaken, a cyclists has an increased heart rate and respiration. That means that the act of riding a bike results in greater emissions of carbon dioxide from the rider. Since CO2 is deemed to be a greenhouse gas and a pollutant, bicyclists are actually polluting when they ride."
Tellya what. I'll get on an exercise bike in a closed room and pedal for a few hours and you get in a car in a closed garage and run the engine for a few hours and well see who walks away.
A Washington bike shop owner expresses his understandable concern about this provision, noting that (in addition to the harm to Washington businesses selling bikes) this is a poor idea because it disincentivizes an environmentally friendly form of transportation.
Bike Tax supporter Ed Orcutt (R-Kalama) explains why this assumption is not accurate:
"You claim that it is environmentally friendly to ride a bike. But if I am not mistaken, a cyclists has an increased heart rate and respiration. That means that the act of riding a bike results in greater emissions of carbon dioxide from the rider. Since CO2 is deemed to be a greenhouse gas and a pollutant, bicyclists are actually polluting when they ride."

Tellya what. I'll get on an exercise bike in a closed room and pedal for a few hours and you get in a car in a closed garage and run the engine for a few hours and well see who walks away.