Bicycle subsidy platform now open for new applications

Source: Announcements

The Department for Transport, Communications and Works announces the opening of applications for the revised Bicycle Purchase Grant Scheme for 2022 - 2023. The application period is from 06/09/2022 at 11:00 a.m. to 21/09/2022 at 10:00 a.m. Applications should be submitted online at www.podilato.gov.cy and pre-approvals will be given through a live electronic lottery process.

The Ministry of Transport, Communications and Works budget includes a total provision of €200,000 for the year 2022, and the Ministry's target for the year 2022 is to sponsor 900 new non-electric bicycles and 25 types of bicycles for the disabled. 

As a reminder, the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Works, in collaboration with the State Ministry of Social Welfare and the Ministry of Finance, have established socio-economic criteria for targeting the project to citizens who have lower financial means to purchase a bicycle. Based on a decision of the Council of Ministers, the beneficiaries for the purchase of a new bicycle are determined on the basis of the following socio-economic criteria:

i. The beneficiaries of the minimum guaranteed income provided by the Welfare Benefits Management Service of the Ministry of Social Welfare.

ii. Recipients of the public assistance provided by the Social Welfare Services of the State Ministry of Social Welfare.

iii. Recipients of the benefit to low-income pensioners provided by the Welfare Benefit Management Service of the State Ministry of Social Welfare, which has the meaning given to this term in accordance with the Plan of Assistance to Low-Income Pensioners, as amended or replaced in accordance with the Decisions of the Council of Ministers from time to time.

iv. Family units with dependent children as defined in the Child Benefit Provision Act 2002 (Law 167 (I) /2002):

1. who have one (1) dependent child and have an annual gross gross gross income of up to €19,500 and receive a child allowance.
2. who have two (2) dependent children and have an annual gross gross gross income of up to €39,000 and receive a child allowance.
3. who have three (3) or more dependent children and have an annual gross gross gross income of up to €49,000 and receive a child benefit.

For the purchase of a type of bicycle for the disabled, it is recalled that the beneficiaries are the holders of the European Disability Card or present a certificate from the Evaluation Committee of the Department for the Social Integration of Persons with Disabilities. It is also noted that the types of bicycles for disabled persons should be bicycles that mitigate any form of disability or handicap of the disabled person and concern:

• tricycles,
• Three-wheeled bicycles,
• Bicycle with wheelchair.

Any types of bicycles for disabled persons not described above will require approval from the Sustainable Mobility Branch of the Department of Public Works, Ministry of Transport, Communications and Works, which must be provided by the applicant before the end of the application period.

The purchase subsidy amount for city, road and mountain bicycles will continue to be €200 (including VAT) or the actual purchase price of the bicycle, whichever is lower and provided that the purchase cost does not exceed €1. 000 (incl. VAT). For the types of bicycles for the disabled, the subsidy amount will be €800 (incl. VAT) or the actual purchase price of the bicycle, whichever is the lower, provided that the purchase cost does not exceed €4,000 (incl. VAT).

Cypriot nationals, citizens of a Member State of the European Union and citizens of third countries, aged 18 years and over, who are permanently residing in the areas controlled by the Republic of Cyprus and who meet the above criteria are eligible to apply.

Finally, it is noted that applicants who utilized the Cycling Grant Scheme for 2021 and have received a grant will be automatically excluded from the application system for 2022 and 2023.