Santander to help residents with 350 euros for e-bike purchases

These grants will hopefully stimulate the wider switch to modes of sustainable mobility

The Santander City Council is set to approve today a draft ordinance that will provide municipal aid to residents when purchasing electric bicycles. The northern Spanish city wants to nudge its inhabitants in the direction of opting for more healthy and sustainable mobility.

The Councillor for Sustainable Mobility, César Díaz, who announced the news, stressed that the financial aid will reach 350 euros per purchase and is meant to pique the citizens’ interest and encourage them to take more immediate action in choosing cycling.

The measure will also support local business

The City Council will allocate 75,000 euros to the first planned call, which will support the purchase of up to 215 urban-type electric bikes, in addition to promoting local consumption.

“We are perfectly aware that we must move towards a city that is increasingly friendly, comfortable and safe for pedestrians and cyclists, and that is why we are taking advantage of this moment to further promote cyclist mobility in the municipality from a sustainable and efficient perspective”, remarked the councillor, who hopes that the aid will be a catalyst for many residents to opt for this mode of transport.

The grants will be aimed at residents over 18 years of age, registered as living in Santander for at least 6 months before the publication of the call.

Among the requirements is the need to make the purchase in a local shop, thus supporting entrepreneurs and businesses that are linked to sustainable mobility. Furthermore, the price of the bicycle may not exceed 1,500 euros (excluding VAT) and it may not be passed on to a third party in the following two years.

Councilor Díaz took the opportunity to recall two other important projects for which European funds have been requested, such as: the expansion of the network of closed parking spaces for bikes with 230 new spaces in capacity modules of 40, 20 and 10 bikes; or the implementation of an electric bicycle rental system to modify the current one, with 200 bikes and 20 stations.

The City Council is also studying the possibility of installing the so-called ‘totems’, which are small stations for bicycle repairs that cyclists can use for free in case of emergency.  These already exist in other localities (for example in the Basque Country) and are equipped with screwdrivers, spanners, allen keys and tools for mounting and removing tires. In addition, these totems have hoses and valve connectors to inflate the tires, as well as a manual system and a gauge to control the air pressure.