Bicycle sales steep with purchase subsidy up to 30,000 yen, "official bicycle" at city hall Izu says

Sales of bicycles are booming in Izu City, Shizuoka Prefecture. This is because the city provides subsidies of up to 30,000 yen to citizens who purchase new cars. Due to the higher than expected number of applications, they have increased the budget for this year as well. The city is steadily promoting "bicycle community development", such as actively using bicycles for transportation of officials during official duties.

In Izu City, there is the "Japan Cycle Sports Center," which was the main venue for cycling events at the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics. In order to create a legacy, the city has come up with various ingenious measures, and subsidies for new car purchases are part of that.

When the subsidy system started in October of the same year for new cycles purchased after April last year, the budget of 1.5 million yen was quickly used up, so the reserve fund was used. In fiscal 2021, they subsidised the purchase of a total of 128 units.

© 朝日新聞社 「公用自転車」で移動する市職員=静岡県伊豆市提供

Read More Here (Japanese): https://tinyurl.com/5a3r3edu

Original News Source: (c) The Asahi Shimbun Online #akonikk