Italian government is offering 60 % refund to residents who purchase a new bicycle as part of the strategy to keep pollution down while reducing the number of people on public transportation given the ongoing virus threat.
If you were wondering why all of a sudden there are so many bicycles around Trieste there are two words that explain it all: bike bonus. In the recent emergency decree, the government provided 120 million euros to encourage bicycles, scooters, and alternative mobility devices. People living in cities with more than 50 thousand inhabitants get covered 60% of the purchase cost, with a ceiling of 500 euros.
The Bike Bonus is seen as stimulus for green transportation in Trieste, as well as a way to support the national cycling industry. Minister for the Environment, Sergio Costa, said that the Bonus Bici is an environmental measure “which is simultaneously a tool for development and employment… It supports positive supply chains in the industry. Italy is the second largest bike manufacturer in the world… [the Bonus Bici] is part of the support for green mobility which will be the greatest ally of cities in the post-COVID recovery in terms of mobility.”
Who is eligible to get bike bonus?
The incentives are available to Trieste residents. Reimbursements are good for purchases made from May 4th through December 31st 2020, and can be done retroactively. The Bonus will soon have its own app, with which citizens can request reimbursements and retailers can use to make the discount immediately in stores.
By In Trieste
I would like to be informed when this bonus app is activated.