The federal government wants a safer cycling infrastructure. The money is ready, states and municipalities only have to use it.
The Federal Ministry of Transport has asked the federal states and municipalities to use subsidies for cycle paths. “The bicycle is playing an increasingly important role in the mobility mix and makes a valuable contribution to sustainable and climate-friendly mobility,” said Parliamentary State Secretary Oliver Luksic at the National Cycling Congress in Frankfurt.
The federal government is helping states and municipalities to make cycling infrastructure safer. Money is available in the federal budget. The funding has been increased to 2.8 billion euros by 2028, said Luksic. “Now the responsible actors on site have to call up these funds and advance measures quickly.”
Hesse’s Transport Minister Tarek Al-Wazir said at the congress before the start of the Eurobike bicycle fair that cities had been designed for cars for decades. Now it’s about the “humane city”. The expansion of cycle paths, good signage and more safety in traffic and parking spaces are necessary. “Cycling must become more attractive locally,” said the Green politician.
The industry called for subsidies again. A targeted economic strategy is needed to keep jobs, said Wasilis von Rauch, Managing Director of the Zukunft Fahrrad association. “As a first step, the VAT for bicycles and their repairs must be reduced to seven percent and one billion euros must be made available annually for the expansion of cycle paths.” The federal government should take other countries as examples. France has the goal of doubling the country’s bicycle production by 2030. Portugal, Europe’s largest bicycle manufacturer, has reduced VAT on bicycles to six percent.
Source: Stern
