Cyclists wearing protective face masks ride in a cycle lane in the “Rue de Rivoli” as France is … [+]
“In a few weeks, the [COVID-19] crisis has won more for cycling than years of bicycle campaigning,” French environment minister Elisabeth Borne told Paris Match on May 28 as she announced that France would be tripling the amount to be spent on getting more people on bicycles to avert urban gridlock in cities across France.
At the end of April Borne said France would spend €20 million on emergency cycling measures, including €50 vouchers for repairing bicycles. The budget has now been increased to €60 million, which will pay for more repair vouchers and more generous subsidies for purchasing e-bikes.
A man wearing a protective mask rides his bicycle in the deserted and car-free “rue de Rivoli” in … [+]
According to Paris Match, 62,400 repair vouchers have been issued to date.
“I’ve been fighting for a long time to change the nation’s view on cycling,” said Borne, “especially since 60% of journeys are less than 5 kilometers,” she added.
Meanwhile, in the U.K. the £50 bicycle repair scheme, announced by Transport Secretary Grant Shapps on May 9, is not yet operational.
