Source Cycling Industry News – The UK government has changed the timetable for the forthcoming e-scooter trials – now to take place next month instead of next year.
The move could lead to rental e-scooters on UK roads as early as June, according to the government, which announced the move with its big £2 billion for cycling and walking declaration, made as the nation grapples with getting back on the move as the Covid-19 lockdown gradually eases.
Originally set to take place in four ‘Future Transport Zones’ (Portsmouth and Southampton; West of England Combined Authority; and Derby and Nottingham), the trial of rental e-scooters will now be offered out to all local areas across the country, with the aim of allowing the government to assess their benefits as well as their impact on public space.
Manchester-based LEVA-EU member Insync Bikes has welcomed Boris Johnson’s prediction that cycling will experience a golden age once lockdown ends.
The Prime Minister made the comments during Prime Ministers Questions on Wednesday when he said a crucial part of the success in helping life return to normal would be getting transport to run safely.
He told Parliament: “There will be a huge amount of planning going into helping people to get to work other than by mass transit. This should be a new golden age for cycling.”
The comments have been welcomed by Insync Bikes, owned by India’s Hero Cycles, which, says it is seeing strong sales of family range of bikes as cycling fell under the government’s list of permitted daily activities.
Eddie Eccleston, Insync Bikes’ head of European Operations, said: “We are heartened to hear the Prime Minister’s prediction that the boom period the sport is experiencing will continue as the UK starts to rebuild itself. Insync has long championed cycling as a force for good and so we are delighted to have watched people of all ages embracing cycling during the last six weeks.”
“Cycling is proven to boost the immune system and improve sensitivity to vaccines, as well as strengthening physical health. There are also huge benefits to mental wellbeing, which is a priority during such difficult times. We look forward to seeing the growth of cycling as a means of transport when more people begin to return to the workplace.”
With an increase in cycling expected, Insync called on local authorities to do more to support safer cycling in towns and cities across the UK. In Greater Manchester, where Insync’s Hero Global Design Centre is based, plans for a £1.5 billion Bee Network include 1,800 miles of protected space across the city region, which are expected to lead to a 350 per cent increase in cycling.
Eddie said: “It is encouraging to hear of the value local authorities are placing on cycling and we would urge others to go the extra mile to make it easier and safer for people of all ages to get into riding.”
Insync said e-bikes will also have a role to play in getting more people commuting, giving the physical benefits of a regular bike but with an extra push to allow riders to arrive at work sweat free and with more energy for the day ahead.
The business is also backing a package of measures presented to the government by the Bicycle Association, which include:
Funding, guidance and leadership for local authorities so that they can make changes to their local roads to enable people to cycle safely from home to work and to other destinations such as high street shops. This includes extensive networks of ‘pop-up’ bike lanes, closing roads to through car traffic, and reallocation of road lanes to create space for cycling.
A zero VAT ‘holiday’ for all bikes, e-bikes, and cycle repairs.
A short-term £250 per bike purchase grant to promote e-bikes.
A £50 per customer voucher scheme for repairs.
Extending the Cycle to Work scheme.
Adult refresher cycle training across the country.
Funding and planning easements to help employers provide secure cycle parking for their workers.
The current world health crisis will result in a decline of 9.2% in EU exports and 8.8% in EU imports from third countries in 2020, according to the EU Chief Economist note, based on the estimated decline in GDP worldwide.
The increasing spread of the virus has prompted many governments to temporarily shut down businesses, and restrict travel and the movement of people. These measures will lead to sharp contractions in the level of economic output, household spending, investment and international trade.
While there is a wealth of forecasts on GDP growth in 2020, there is a limited range of work done on trade projections for 2020, in particular for EU trade.
The analysis outlined in this note is one of the few attempts at predicting the impact of the COVID19 outbreak on trade flows. In order to test the robustness of this analysis, results are also compared to the latest WTO trade forecasts published on 8 April.
LEVA-EU is gathering information on Covid-19 measures in Europe which are relevant for LEV-Businesses.
We will update this information regularly. If you have relevant information, which is not yet in our list, please send it by e-mail to daan@leva-eu.com.
Read more on best LEV-practices @ourwebsite. Latest update: 05 May.
Stay safe!
Austria
Measures: bicycle shops are allowed to remain open. Update on 14 April. Read more @WKO.
Further information on measures in Austria:
All relevant information about Corona measures and financial support. Read more @Bmdw.gv.
Belgium
Measure: bicycle dealers and repairers are allowed to reopen on 11 May. Read more @Traxio. or @Nieuwsfiets.nu.
Funding measures for businesses. Read more @Tem.fi.
France
Measure: sales and repair of (e)bikes, e-mopeds, e-motorcycles and other LEVs is allowed. Read more @Legifrance.gouv.fr.
Further information on measures in France:
Update on Corona measures and shops that are allowed to remain open. Read more @Gouvernement.
Germany
Measure: Since 20 April, dealers and repairers are allowed to open again for sales and repairs, but measures may differ per region. Read more @Sazbike. or @theGuardian.
Further information on measures in Germany:
Information for SME’s and self-employed. Read more @Bundesregierung.
Several tax solutions to survive the Coronavirus. Read more @Belastingdienst.
Find here information about the NOW measure. Read more @Rijksoverheid.
Overview for business that need information about foreign markets including information about Corona. Read more @RVO.
Norway
Measure: in general stores are allowed to stay open if they can maintain at least 1 meter private space for visitors and at least 2 meters amongst colleagues
Some parties come up with inventive solutions to deploy LEVs in the fight against the corona virus. Below is a list of such best practices. Do you know any initiatives that are not in the list below? Let us know by e-mail: daan@leva-eu.com
Read more on Covid-19 measures in Europe @ourwebsite.
We will update this information regularly. Latest update: 05 May.
Stay safe!
Austria
More road space for cyclists in Vienna. Read more @Wien.orf.
Click and collect campaign by NOX Cycles to improve online business. Read more @Radmarkt.
Belgium
A number of cargo bike suppliers in Antwerp rent their cargo bikes out to businesses that have to supply goods or services to customers. Read more @iBike.
Traffic lights in Brussels adjusted to the needs of pedestrians and cyclist during Corona. Read more @bruzz.
City of Gent in favor of expanded footpaths and cycleways. Read more @VRT.
Europe / Worldwide
LEVA-EU member QWIC deliveres their e-bikes for free now. Read more @QWIC.
Examples on how cities and micromobility operatores respond to the current situation. Read more @eBikeLabs.
How local authorities keep moving during Covid-19. Read more @PolisNetwork.
Funding by the New Zealand government for expanded footpaths and temporary cycleways. Read more @Stuff.
Research on sustainable urban mobility during Covid-19. Read more @Tumi.
Maintaining essential mobility during a pandemic. Read more @Eltis.
Creating space for cycling within 10 days. Read more @mobycon.
France
Île-de-France Mobilités and RATP strengthen public transport for hospital workers. Read more @Iledefrance-mobilites.
LEVA-EU member Carla Cargo offers free shipment of their bicycle trailers within the EU. Read more @Carla Cargo.
Rental bike provider Nextbike GmbH offers free usage of their fleet for 30 minutes. Read more @Radmarkt.
Temporary expansion of bicycle lanes during Corona in Berlin. Read more @Berlin. Find also a document with the setup for these bicycles lanes. Read more @berlin.
Free of charge webinar about home office tools special for bicycle branche. Read more @radmarkt.
Nüwiel offers free use of their electric trailers for local organizations in Hamburg. Read more @Nüwiel.
