Parbleu! In a major step forward for the country's environmental efforts, France is now paying €4000 to motorists who swap their old polluting vehicle for an electric bicycle. It is a significant boost to the incentive to improve French cities.
As reported by Times, the incentive will be inversely proportional to income. The entire amount of 4.000 euros will be allocated to those living in the lowest income brackets, while the richest "converted" motorists will receive less aid. Even those who want an ebike while keeping their car, the French government will grant around 400 euros, including normal pedal bicycles in the aid.
Some cities have even more generous subsidies: this is the case of the capital, Paris, which gives up to €500 for the purchase of an e-bike or a folding pedal bicycle.
It is not a world for motorists
France works hard to "convert" citizens by pushing them away from their cars and bringing them closer to smaller, more sustainable forms of nature-related transport. In the big cities of the world, the reduction of traffic and environmental effects go hand in hand: Paris has taken a truly aggressive approach. Residents demand attention, and the mayor Annie Hidalgo is replying: dal Veil plan to the elimination of ben 100.000 vehicles in the city center, the city is friendlier to cyclists, pedestrians and virtually any form of alternative transport.
The idea of walkable cities, which prioritize human mobility over cars, is gaining traction around the world. Since Covid onwards, citizens have asked for more accessible urban planning. In many cases this means dedicating car lanes and on-street parking to dedicated public transport lanes or cycle paths (as they do Milano o Manila), as well as giving roads and sidewalks to pedestrians (like Seattle does) or create entire pedestrian neighborhoods (as they do Madrid and Barcelona).
Many cities are banning cars in central areas (as does Ljubljana). Others are introducing "traffic taxes" (like New York does) to discourage motorists from driving in crowded urban areas.
Europe leads the sprint
For once, the 'old continent' is at the forefront: the European countries are the most advanced countries in incentives for green transport.
Some countries (Spain, Germany, Austria) have started offering tax incentives. Measures that essentially pay motorists to cycle to work instead of using a car.
Il Belgium recently made headlines by increasing its incentives for cycling to work to € 0,25 per kilometer (about $ 0,45 per mile), according to Light Electric Vehicle Association. Holland offers more or less the same amount.
In summary? Yet the ecological transition is moving, and it does so by bike.
