Ireland pushes through €3,000 cargo bike tax incentive
The new Irish Finance Bill is to make a tax incentive of up to €3,000 to families who are interested in buying a cargo bike for transport and business trips, rather than a car or van.
Offered via the Bike to Work scheme from January of 2023, the raised ceiling adds to an earlier allowance of €1,500 for electric bike purchases on the scheme, or up to €1,250 for standard bicycles.
Pro-cycling Minister for Transport Eamon Ryan made the announcement this week, bringing forward the legislative tweak on the back of increasing uptake of the eBike and bicycle tax breaks since 2020.
Minister Ryan stated: “This increase will help make cargo bikes more affordable for those choosing to purchase a new bike under the bike to work scheme. Cargo bikes have become more popular in recent years with many people using them to bring their kids to school, for shopping and for work purposes as delivery vehicles. The cost factor, however, is an impediment to many people who may want to buy one. We hope that by increasing the limits for cargo bikes, more people will be able to choose them as a more sustainable way to get around.
“We also need to see our courier and delivery companies moving at a faster pace from vans and trucks to cargo bikes and we are looking at ways of supporting this transformation, specifically for the last mile element of their deliveries.
“The coming years will see a re-allocation of road space away from private vehicles towards public transport and space for people walking and cycling and cargo bikes will play a large part in how we use our roads. I look forward to seeing many more cargo bikes on our roads over the coming years, helped by this decision today to make them more affordable.”
Ryan’s department is further looking at alternative methods to increase cargo bike usage. The National Transport Authority is likely to roll out a bicycle library concept that will visit schools and introduce parents to a cargo bike capable of hauling large loads, with demos on offer to those who wish to try one.
In case you missed it, Ireland’s largest eBike retailer GreenAer was recently profiled by CI.N, offering its take on the domestic cargo bike market. Read more on that here.
