Source: The Mayor.EU T.V. Iolov

The Polish city has reserved an annual budget with an objective to increase the use of this sustainable transport option.

The City of Gdynia is forecasting an increase in the number of electric bikes in use around the city, not simply because the weather permits it, but because local authorities have announced a new wave of subsidies to aid local residents with e-bicycle purchases.

The 2022 pilot scheme was met with considerable praise and was somewhat pioneering. As a result, officials have doubled the funding. This transpires that in 2023, the reserve amounts to PLN 200,000 (about 42,500 euros), meaning that 80 local residents will find it more simplistic to purchase an environmentally friendly bicycle.

Soft mobility and Gdynia.

Of some importance, the directive on granting subsidies to residents remains unchanged from 2022. There remains a 50% subsidy on the eligible costs incurred, but not more than PLN 2,500.

An evaluation survey was implemented following last year’s campaign, in which 80% of people who received a subsidy admitted that the purchasing aid did, in fact, increase their interest in this sustainable mode of transport. More than half of those taking part said that they used their electric bikes in colder months, and 97% of purchased bikes receive regular use.

“Last year’s grant turned out to be a great success. The residents were looking forward to the next pool and since December we have received a lot of calls asking when we will restart the project. We are glad that the residents want to change their transport habits and despite the fact that some time has passed since the application was submitted, they are still willing to take advantage of the subsidy,” explained Marek Łucyk, Deputy Mayor of Gdynia for Development.

Half of the funds provided for the subsidy have been provided by the Provincial Fund for Environmental Protection and Water Management in Gdańsk.