A French government scheme to encourage more people to ride bikes and to carry cargo and kids with them has been extended to December 31, and the level of subsidies is being doubled.
The subsidies vary with the kinds of bikes and the income level of the recipients, but can now go as high as €2000 for low-income families or disabled people buying electrically-assisted cargo bikes, which can also carry infants and children,
The program has so far cost about €2 million and with the extension could go as high as €5 million, all borne by the central government. A number of large cities had previously offered subsidies of their own, but this time residents of all areas including small towns and villages have been included.
