Group says UK should offer £ for bicycles, not cars

Instead of offering UK motorists money to scrap their old cars, the Government should focus on a scrappage scheme for bicycles, according to the Environmental Transport Association (ETA).

The bicycle insurer said, rather than offering drivers £2,000 off a new car when a 10-year-old vehicle is scrapped, the Government should create a “pounds-for-pedals” programme that gives cyclists £100 to spend on a new bicycle. The old bike, instead of being scrapped, could be shipped to developing countries to be refurbished and reused.

“This would be a boost for the economy, but unlike the ‘cash-for-clunkers’ car scheme, a grant for cyclists would be environmentally friendly,” said Andrew Davis, director at the ETA.