- France will invest 2 billion euros in bicycle infrastructure and will subsidize the purchase of bicycles to reduce car use.
- The goal is to double the network of exclusive bicycle lanes and increase it to 80,000 kilometers in 2027 and to 100,000 km in 2030.
- It must be remembered that Paris will ban electric scooters on its streets as of September 1 and will focus on promoting the use of bicycles.
The French government announced this Friday, May 5, that it will invest 2 billion euros (almost 2.2 billion dollars) between 2023 and 2027 to optimize infrastructure for cyclists.
In addition, it will help its inhabitants to buy bicycles, in an effort to reduce the use of cars.
The idea of the Government of Emmanuel Macron is to double the network of exclusive lanes for bicycles. “The state effort in favor of bicycles will be unprecedented and massive,” said the French transport minister, Clement Beaune.
The government wants the bicycle to be an alternative that away people from cars and that it becomes an accessible means of transport from a very early age and throughout life, Beaune said.
France’s goal is for the bicycle lane networks to increase from 50,000 kilometers to 80,000 kilometers in 2027 and to 100,000 km in 2030.
The plan will be focused on the cities of the French interior, since the big capitals, according to Beaune, have already received “considerable state funds for infrastructures for cyclists.”
🚲 Cyclable tracks, apprenticeship of the vélo à l’école, aids à l’achat, … Le gouvernement débloque deux milliards d’euros pour son nouveau plan vélo ➡️ https://t.co/hvV7ubt6pH pic.twitter.com/PaljIsSEgY
— France Inter (@franceinter) May 4, 2023
In addition, said the Minister of Transport, 500 million euros will be allocated to subsidize the purchase of bicycles, including used ones.
Another piece of information: the government is going to allocate part of these funds to parking spaces for bicycles in train stations and for signage.
France bans electric scooters
The decision shows that the strategy in France will be to promote the use of bicycles and not scooters or electric scooters on its streets. It must be remembered that from September 1st, these vehicles will be prohibited on the streets of Paris.
The Paris decision was not isolated and came in response to an anarchic growth of the scooter transport system in big cities.
The electric scooter market has undergone a great evolution in recent years, becoming a popular medium in many cities thanks to its compact design and sustainable energy source.
Numerous companies have entered the electric scooter market in recent years, each aiming to capture a piece of this growing industry.
Major players in this arena include Lime, Bird, and Spin, each offering their own features and models.
However, with the rapid growth of the market, there are concerns about safety and regulations.
In San Francisco, for example, electric scooter companies were forced to halt their operations.
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