If you were thinking about taking advantage of the States funded discount to buy yourself an electric bicycle you are too late.
Due to the popularity of the scheme, the funding set aside for the electric cycle subsidy has been exhausted less than a month after the campaign was launched.
366 electric bikes were bought as a result of the scheme which saw a private/public partnership established between the Committee for the Environment & Infrastructure and local retailers. That scheme, funded through the States Integrated Transport Strategy, was designed to promote the use of electric cycles as an alternative to the motor car.
Since the scheme was launched at the beginning of April 2018 a number of statistics have been gathered about the bikes bought using the subsidy and those who have bought them.
The three most popular brands sold during the initiative were Raleigh, Scott and Whisper while initial indications to date show that 46% of new owners are female and 53% are male.
Of the 366 electric cycles sold, they cost between £650 and £3,000, meaning the subsidy each owner benefited from varied up to the maximum of £375 per e-bike. That included £300 funded by the E&I Committee and £75 funded by the cycle retailer.
The success of the scheme has pleased Deputy Barry Brehaut, President of the Committee for the Environment & Infrastructure, who said:
"The Committee is ecstatic that so many people have taken the opportunity to buy an electric cycle. It is hoped the subsidy scheme will help reduce traffic congestion on our roads and help owners enjoy the many health benefits that come with increased activity.
"The anecdotal feedback we have heard from e-bike users is that they are delighted with their new form of transport and are enjoying the freedom and ease of use that they bring, so we look forward to seeing the results of the surveys in the future."
Pictured: Deputy Barry Brehaut
The E&I Committee worked with retailers to secure the 25% discount on purchases up to the value of £1,500. A 20% subsidy towards the purchase was offered by the States with cycle retailers making up the remaining 5%.
Anyone who has bought a bike within the initiative will be sent three surveys during the first 12 months of ownership asking hem for information on how the bikes are being used so that E&I can determine whether the initiative is succeeding in encouraging people to leave their car at home. It will also judge if the e-bkes have helped improve the health of the owners.
Once the surveys are completed and the results are analysed, they will be made available at gov.gg.
In the meantime, E&I said it has no plans to extend the scheme until the results of those surveys are known.
Comments
Comments on this story express the views of the commentator only, not Bailiwick Publishing. We are unable to guarantee the accuracy of any of those comments.