Riders from low-income backgrounds are now eligible for a £1,000 grant to help them purchase a more environmentally friendly bike.
Under the £25m polluting vehicle scrappage scheme, which launched last month, riders can apply for £1,000 when scrapping an older, more polluting motorcycle or moped.
The money must be used to purchase a new bike which meets the criteria of the Capital’s Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ), which came into effect in April.
This is the Euro 3 Standard – typically bikes manufactured since 2007.
The first part of London’s ULEZ covers the existing Congestion Charging Zone (CCZ) and is in operation 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Under current plans, the ULEZ will be expanded to cover the entire area between the North and South Circular roads in 2021.
Authorities say the scrappage scheme aims to help Londoners on low incomes or with disabilities, ahead of the 2021 ULEZ expansion.
Sadiq Khan, mayor of London, said: “Our car and motorcycle scrappage scheme will enable low-income and disabled Londoners to scrap their older, polluting vehicles and switch to cleaner versions.”
The new scheme has been welcomed by the Motorcycle Industry Association (MCIA) – who says the role of motorcycles in reducing transport congestion – and subsequent air pollution – ‘cannot be overstated’.
06 November 2019
