Italy has announced a ‘relaunch’ program for the post-coronavirus era, with a variety of programs to encourage more sustainable and environment-friendly transportation.
One provision that’s gotten a lot of press is a bonus of up to €500 to encourage city residents to get out of cars and buy bikes, hoverboards, and other cleaner personal transport. The offer is for people living in cities with more than 50,000 population, and is calculated at 60% of the price paid. That would bring the price of a €1000 e-bike down to a more modest €400.
To encourage bikers even more, rules are being changed to allow bikers to start first in intersections when the light goes green, and plans to extend bike paths will be sped up.
There will also be other incentives, aimed at getting people to scrap older, less efficient cars and motorbikes and replacing them with sustainable vehicles or with public transport passes.