EICMA Bici Show Signals Start of New Bike Buying Incentive Scheme

MILAN, Italy – The 67th EICMA International Bicycle Exhibition couldn’t have wished for a better start last Friday. At the opening of the show Italy’s Minister of the Environment Stefania Prestigiacomo (photo) announced that the government has allocated another 7.6 million euro to spur consumer purchases of bicycles.

The government measure created a jubilant atmosphere at the start of the 4-day show. What contributed to the upbeat mood of, in particular the people behind Italy’s industry association ANCMA, was the fact that the government is now really showing an interest in bicycles and the contribution cycling that present in lowering CO2 emissions and in bringing down car traffic in cities.

Proof of that interest is not only the additional 7.6 million euro, which come after earlier allocations of in total 11.4 million euro as incentives for buying bikes, but also the fact that Minister Prestigiacomo further said that in 2010 and the years after the 2nd of May will be the National Bike Day in Italy.

ANCMA’s Pierro Nigrelli, who is in charge of the bicycles at the industry association which also represents Italy’s Powered Two-Wheeler industry, explained that new incentive scheme will offer a maximum 30% discount on the purchase price of a regular bike as well as an electric bicycle. In euros the maximum discount for a regular bicycle stands at € 200 and for an e-Bike the maximum discount is € 450.

The new 6.7 million euro incentive scheme starts September 25. “If the good weather continues we expect that all the money will be spent in one month and that about 70,000 bicycles extra than usual will be sold,” said Nigrelli. Maybe that all the media reports on the available extra discount for buying a new bike spurred people to come to the 67th EICMA Bici, because in particular during the weekend the show was crowded. 

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