Background information

The decision for the grant for the purchase of new bicycles follows the successful implementation of the scheme in the second semester of 2021 and the great interest shown by citizens. The Cabinet approved a revised incentive plan with the aim of ensuring the accessibility of a larger portion of citizens. The plan is part of the Cyprus National Energy and Climate Plan, which provides, among others, for the use of bicycles resulting in reducing the environmental impact of transport and the number of CO2 emissions and air pollutants, in particular.

Content of measure

Beneficiaries of the grant are permanent residents in the areas controlled by the Republic of Cyprus (RoC), are 18 years of age or older. Additionally, the socio-economic eligibility criteria are:

• beneficiaries of the minimum guaranteed income
• recipients of public assistance
• recipients of pensioner’s benefit of low income
• families with dependent children: with one child and annual gross income up to €19,500, with two children and annual gross income up to €39,000 and with three or more children and annual gross income up to €49,000
• holders of a European disability card

The types of bicycles included are city, road and mountain bikes and types of bicycles for the disable. Each beneficiary is entitled for the purchase of one bicycle, which does not exceed the purchase cost of €1,000 or €4,000 for bicycles designed for disabled people. The maximum amount of the subsidy is €200 and €800 for bicycles designed for disabled people. The total available budget for the scheme is €200,000.

Use of measure

For the purchase of new bicycles the amount is €180,000 and 900 beneficiaries and for the purchase of type of bicycles for the disabled the amount is €20,000 and 25 beneficiaries.

Target groups

Workers	Businesses	Citizens
Does not apply to workers	Does not apply to businesses	Older citizens Disabled People on social benefits People on low incomes

Actors and funding

Actors	Funding
National government	National funds

Social partners

Social partners' role in designing the measure and form of involvement:

	Trade unions	Employers' organisations
Role	No involvement	No involvement
Form	Not applicable	Not applicable

Social partners' role in the implementation, monitoring and assessment phase:

• No involvement
• Main level of involvement: N/A

Involvement

The designing of the grant scheme has been performed by the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Work and upon the decision of the members of the Cabinet; no social partner or political party has been invited to participate in any kind of consultation. Similarly, social partners and political parties have no involvement in the implementation of the grant. The competent body of the grant scheme is the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Work, which collaborates with the Department of Public Works for the monitoring of progress of implementation.

Views and reactions

No particular reactions have been recorded by social partners or political parties in regards to the issuing of the grant and/or the content.

Sources

• 28 July 2022: Αναθεωρημένο Σχέδιο Υλοποίησης και Σχεδιασμός Δράσης: Επιχορήγηση αγοράς καινούργιου ποδηλάτου για την Περίοδο 2022-2023 (podilato.gov.cy)