Environment Minister Svenja Schulze reacts skeptically to the Greens' proposal that the federal government should in future also support the purchase of privately used cargo bikes with a sum of billions.
The federal government has long been promoting cargo bikes, for freelancers, companies, associations or municipalities, said the SPD politician in Berlin.
“That brings more for climate protection, because in the commercial sector you can make vans superfluous, for example for parcel delivery.” Schulze called the focus on commercial and municipalities chosen by the government “correct, because this is where the climate protection lever is greatest”.
Schulze said that private individuals could also benefit from the existing premium. Loan offers for private use would also be promoted, "so that everyone can try out whether a cargo bike is worthwhile for everyday use". According to the current model, 25 percent of the acquisition costs are reimbursed, up to a maximum of 2500 euros per bike.
In a newspaper interview, Sven-Christian Kindler, Member of the Green Party, had previously spoken out in favor of greater funding for cargo bikes - one million cargo bikes should be funded by the federal government with a grant of 1000 euros each. And unlike in the past, privately used cargo bikes should also be included. Green Chancellor candidate Annalena Baerbock had also supported the proposal. There should be no “absolute inequality” to the existing funding of 6,000 euros for electric cars. With cargo bikes, people could also bring their purchases home who do not have a driver's license or who do not want to or cannot drive a car.
CDU General Secretary Paul Ziemiak had criticized the proposals on Twitter as "absurd and unworldly". He objected that for many people in rural areas, especially for craftsmen, this was just not the perfect solution. Left boss Bernd Riexinger asked, on the other hand, also on Twitter: "If the transport policy of the CDU and FDP is so free of ideology, why are billions in subsidies for cars okay, but there is huge outrage when it comes to cargo bikes?"