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MILAN, Italy – On September 25; just two hours after the start of Italy’s second bike buying incentive scheme (officially called EcoIncentive) already 2,000 bicycles were sold with a total government subsidy of 230,000 euro! Under its EcoIncentive scheme the Italian government has allocated another 7.6 million euro to spur consumer purchases of bicycles.

On September 18, at the opening of the 67th EICMA International Bicycle Exhibition 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; earlier the Italian government granted in total 11.4 million euro as incentives for buying bikes.

These millions (which were also allocated to spur people to buy new and more environmental friendly scooters and motorcycles), resulted in about 40,000 bikes extra sold in Italy. The extra 7.6 million is however expected to raise an even much better sales score of 70,000 bikes.

According to officials from the Italian industry association ANCMA, the new EcoIncentive campaign is calling on people to come to the bicycle shops through press, radio and tv coverage. One day before the start of the new campaign an extensive report appeared in Italy’s biggest and most esteemed newspaper ‘Corriere della Serra’. The ANCMA officials say that such reports contribute to the fact that most of the customers attracted by the government incentive haven’t seen a bike shop in decades and are really re-discovering cycling.

Next to the millions to spur consumer purchases of bicycles, Italy’s Minister of the Environment Prestigiacomo stressed at the start of the campaign the importance to dedicate government funds for the development of cycling paths and routes. She pointed to the fact that most of the thousands villages and cities in Italy have old city centers which are ideal for bicycles and e-Bikes!

ANCMA officials say: “Italy and other south European countries need to fill the gap we have with Holland, Danmark and Germany where the culture of cycling mobility is much more accepted. So the actions on bicycle advocacy of ANCMA and COLIBI/COLIPED together with ETRA and ECF are extremely important! Luckily our government is recognizing more and more the fact that cycling can really contribute to bringing down CO2 emission.”