Second e-bike subsidy scheme announced

Tuesday 03 March 2020

The States have announced another e-bike subsidy scheme, this time focusing on electric trikes and cargo bikes.

The Committee for Environment & Infrastructure's first subsidy initiative took place in 2018, giving people in Guernsey a financial incentive to buy an e-bike and cut down on using their cars.

This was taken up by more than 360 people.

Now, E&I is encouraging people to buy an e-cargo bike or e-trike.

The States are offering a 20% subsidy on the bikes while the participating retailers are giving a further 5% discount.

Pictured: E-cargo bikes at Adventure Cycles.

"I think the great thing about the 2018 scheme was that it really helped to kickstart e-bikes in Guernsey and gave a massive boost to their popularity," said Deputy Lindsay de Sausmarez of E&I. "The good news is that interest and popularity has been maintained, so we don't need to repeat that initiative.

"This initiative is focused on two very specific types of bike. E-cargo bikes are, as the name suggests, really good at lugging things around whether that's goods or small children. Because of that, they're probably the most viable alternative to a car or van journey.

"E-trikes are a little bit different. They are really great for people who might have mobility or balance issues and who would struggle to ride a two wheel bike. It's a fantastic way of enabling them to get around on their own steam and enjoy all the benefits of getting around by bicycle, but without having that challenge of balance and mobility."

Anyone over the age of 14 who lives in the island is eligible to take part in the initiative. Proof of ID will be required and each person can only buy one bike under the scheme.

Pictured: Deputy Lindsay de Sausmarez's son, Xavier on an e-cargo bike.

"We're very keen on cycling in the island, being cyclists ourselves," said Dan Thwaite from Adventure Cycles, which has agreed to get involved. "It's the ideal mode of transport for an island like this, where the roads are quite heavily congested and nowhere's far. Yes, you can be put off by hills and headwinds, particularly at this time of year, but an e-cargo bike is a great way round that.

"The most popular models that we do are ones for families that can carry a couple of children, or you can reconfigure it for business usage. It's got a 200kg carrying capacity, so you can transport deliveries. We've had a butchery looking at them for meat deliveries, or it would be ideal to deliver post and parcels."

At Adventure Cycles, the bikes start £2,750 - or £2,062.50 with the subsidy.

"One of the things we found out from our 2018 initiative was that it's had a really positive impact on family budgets," added Deputy de Sausmarez. "The financial pressure of running an e-bike is far less than the cost of running a car.

"We heard lots of really great reports from people who benefited from the last e-bike scheme about positive effects on the family budget and even a few reports about people being able to give up a second family car.

"I think e-cargo bikes will see more of that while e-trikes are another way to make sure that we are being as inclusive to all members of the community as we positively can be."

The initiative will be launched on Saturday 4 April.

More information on the scheme and how to get involved is available here.

Pictured top: Deputy Lindsay de Sausmarez on an e-cargo bike with her son, Xavier.