Bike Bonus: New Incentives from 300 to 3,000 Euros

The 2022 amended finance law includes a better bike bonus of 300 to 400 euros, and up to 3,000 euros for low-income households.

Debated over several days, the 2022 amended finance law has introduced many changes regarding assistance for purchasing bikes. This initiative was led by four deputies from the Renaissance group: Jean-Marc Zulesi, Guillaume Gouffier-Cha, Mr. defender of the bike industry, Mathieu Lefèvre, and Aurore Bergé. They submitted an amendment this weekend, which was adopted this week by the National Assembly.

This amendment No. 1064 aims to allocate an additional 5 million euros to fund increased assistance for the purchase of an electric bike (but not only). This aligns with the goal of increasing exemptions under the Sustainable Mobility Package, reaching up to 800 euros for public transport or bike rental services.

A national bike bonus of 300 euros

This is the largest measure of this amendment. Currently 200 euros, the assistance for purchasing an electric bike will increase to 300 euros. It applies to everyone but cannot be combined with regional aid. In cases where a regional aid of 500 euros exists – such as in Île-de-France – the region will finance the remaining 200 euros.

The amendment mainly targets lower-income households. The bike bonus increases the aid to 400 euros for the 1st and 2nd income deciles, i.e., the 20% most modest. This applies to households with a reference income (RFR) (taxable income) of less than or equal to 13,489 euros. Additionally, people with reduced mobility can also claim the bonus without any income restrictions. 

Assistance of up to 3,000 euros for low-income households

These individuals may also qualify for higher assistance for buying an “other bike”. This refers to cargo bikes (longtail, biporter, tricycle) which have a high purchase price. The bonus is thus 40% or up to 2,000 euros (compared to 1,000 euros previously).

The scrappage bonus doubles, from 1,500 to 3,000 euros. It requires scrapping an old thermal vehicle (diesel older than 2011 or gasoline older than 2006). For this bonus, the amendment broadens eligibility to every household member. “A car can be used simultaneously by members of the same household,” justify the deputies, “and, to ensure the same usage, it makes sense to acquire multiple bikes.”

Finally, assistance for purchasing a traditional (non-electric) bike, “could exceptionally be opened” to these same modest households. The inclusion conditions remain unclear, but the bike bonus might be 150 euros, with no specified percentage of the purchase price.

All these changes to bicycle purchase aid will come into effect on August 15, 2022. They will be valid until December 31, 2022.

A folding bike bonus too!

The most surprising part of this adopted amendment is the one concerning folding bikes. For the four deputies, they offer “less bulk, contributing to promote intermodality between cycling and public transport.” Therefore, the 5 million euro fund will also cover these bikes. The subsidy is capped at 40% of the purchase price, up to 1,000 euros.

However, the amendment remains vague. If this folding bike bonus is intended for low-income households, it is unclear whether it will be available to everyone, even in reduced form (like cargo bikes and the scrappage bonus).

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