Bicycles are taking over Europe's streets

Published Sun, Jul 5, 2020 · 09:50 PM

Berlin

BICYCLES are increasingly muscling aside cars on Europe's city streets, as the novel coronavirus accelerates a shift towards pedal power.

Even before the pandemic, bicycles were enjoying an uptick in demand from environmentally conscious consumers, but the risk of contagion on buses and subways have increased the appeal. The emergence of e-bikes, which boost power with an electric motor, has removed some of the sweat factor, making biking a viable option for more consumers after lockdowns lifted.

Governments are fuelling the trend, offering buying incentives ranging from 100 euros (S$157) to as much as 1,500 euros for heavy business users of e-bikes…