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The controversial subsidy for electric bicycles will be reintroduced in Oslo. Recently, many ended up with the richest. This time, first to come, first to be served.
Environment Councilor Lan Marie Berg (ODM) during the national MDG meeting in 2016. Berg is now reintroducing the subsidy scheme for electric bikes in Oslo Photo: Terje Pedersen / Ntb
The last time, the money was ripped out quickly. It all ended with riots, public debate and a political circus.
Much of the grant ended up in the pockets of people in the wealthiest districts of Oslo. 73 people in Oslo’s peak of wealth could enjoy public sector subsidies to buy electric bicycles.
Four years later, the city council tries again. Therefore, from Monday, December 7, Oslo residents can apply for NOK 5,000 for the purchase of an electric bike. A total of 1,100 people will receive support.
The goal is to get more people to leave the car.
But this time, the red-green city council has made what they call “a social turn” on the grant.
This will be the scheme
The subsidy scheme for electric bicycles will cost taxpayers DKK 5.5 million.
Everyone living in Oslo can apply between December 7 at 09:00 and December 11 at 15:00 They must first fill out a form with questions on the website Klimatilskudd.no.
By December 22, 1,100 of the candidates will be selected by lottery.
But to prevent the municipality from re-awarding grants to some of Oslo’s wealthiest, parts of the grant must now go.
NOK 3.5 million is earmarked for applicants from Alna, Bjerke, Grorud, Stovner or Søndre Nordstrand. 700 of the grants will go to residents of these districts.
The rest of the population of Oslo can draw 400 grants for electric bicycles.
The subsidy covers up to 50 per cent of the price and a maximum of 5,000 crowns.
“All-Time Christmas Present” or Election Rib Meat?
– The all-time Christmas gift for the people of Oslo and the environment, says environmental advisor Lan Marie Berg (ODM).
– Now that we have an acute corona crisis and a climate crisis, having more people in the bicycle seat has never been more important. Then there will be better space on the bus, tram and track for those who really need it, Berg says in a press release.
She describes the earlier attempt as a “resounding success” and notes that Sweden has copied the scheme nationally.
– Never before has the bike share in Oslo been as high as this autumn. My hope is that the government will be inspired by Oslo, says Berg, who also wants a VAT reduction for electric bikes.
5,500 people in Oslo have also received 1000-1500 crowns in municipal support to put studded tires on bicycle wheels.
How did you go?
Aftenposten’s survey according to the previous subsidy scheme in 2016, documented that the subsidy was distributed in a very skewed way.
7.2 percent of the money went to Oslo’s “wealth peaks”. Another 27 percent ended up in the group that describes itself as “high-income, high-wealth urban people.”
Since then, one of Oslo’s three subsidized electric bicycles has circulated through Ullern, Vestre Aker, Nordre Aker and Nordstrand.
On the other hand, a report by the Department of Transport Economics, commissioned by the city of Oslo, showed that the subsidies took effect in 2016.
- The support plan got more people to buy, 669 new owners of electric bikes responded.
- Those who received subsidized electric bicycles cycled an average of 23.9 kilometers to and from work each week.
- TUI estimated that each of the electric cyclists reduced CO 2 emissions from 440 to 729 grams each day. Socioeconomically, the subsidy scheme cost 5,000 to 8,000 crowns to reduce one ton of CO emissions.
Oslo emissions are increasing
By comparison, greenhouse gas emissions in Oslo amounted to around 1.2 million tonnes, based on municipal and county emissions figures for 2018. So the statistics are a couple of years back, but you can see in detail how the development was for each municipality and county between 2017 and 2018..
In Oslo, greenhouse gas emissions increased by more than 60,000 tonnes of CO₂ equivalent in 2017.
The latest available figures from the Norwegian Environment Agency show that emissions from Oslo increased by 60,000 CO₂ equivalents in 2018, corresponding to 5 percent.
At the national level, it appears to be moving in a more positive direction. Emissions in Norway in 2019 were the lowest in 27 years. The pandemic will likely lead to even lower emissions this year.
