Automobile: a conversion bonus to buy ... a bicycle

The conversion bonus will no longer be reserved for cars alone.

Late in the evening of Friday, the deputies voted, with the support of the government, a series of aid for the purchase of bicycles, including the widening of the premium for the conversion to electric bicycles (VAE).

Concretely, in exchange for your old polluting automobile that you want to get rid of, you will have the possibility of obtaining a bonus to buy not a car but rather a bicycle.

"We are engaging another philosophy," rejoices Jean-Marc Zulesi, LREM deputy for Bouches-du-Rhône and rapporteur for the Climate and Resilience Act.

It is a strong signal that we are sending ”.

In a country that has been very attached for decades to the automobile queen, this change is anything but trivial: "Thanks to this amendment, we are not content with scrapping polluting cars, we are also reducing automobile traffic," says Olivier Schneider. , President of the French Federation of Bicycle Users (FUB).

For years there has been a sort of condescension towards cycling.

But in 2020, with the pandemic, the French took over the bicycle.

The government understood that there was an expectation.

"

How much would this premium be?

What would be the possible conditions of resources to benefit from it?

"Everything remains to be written," warns Pierre Serne, president of the Club of cycling towns and territories and regional environmental advisor of Ile-de-France.

But the ideal would be at least to have a premium that covers 40% to 50% of the price of an electric bicycle.

“Or a boost of between 500 and 1,000 euros.

"And why not a bonus that allows to finance several bikes in a household that gets rid of their old vehicle, that would be logical", continues the elected.

Help for cargo bikes

Another avenue put forward by the associations: that this bicycle conversion bonus also make it possible to finance a subscription to public transport.

“It's a good idea, admits Jean-Marc Zulesi.

It is all this post-vote service that must be provided, so that the will of the legislator is well respected ”.

It remains to be seen how many households could be interested in this device.

“There is no estimate, recognizes Pierre Serne.

But a study by Ademe

Management

reveals that the abandonment of the second car has led to a switch to the electric bicycle.

We can hope that this device will accentuate this trend.

"

VIDEO.

Cargo bike, the new car?

The amendment tabled by Jean-Marc Zulesi proposes to finance bicycles with high added value, such as the cargo bike which allows professionals to transport 250 kg of goods and individuals their shopping or their children.

But also the retrofit, that is to say the transformation of vehicles with thermal engines in electric engines.

Finally, the text provides for helping heavy goods vehicles to finance the installation of anti-blind spot devices: "This is a demand that we have been making for years and which will save lives", rejoices Olivier Schneider.