Catherine Conlon: The case for the cargo bike

Ending the love affair between men and their cars is essential for bikes to succeed

Cargo bikes have become popular in recent years for shopping, commuting to work and bringing children to school. Picture: iStock

Families are being encouraged to buy cargo bikes with a new €3,000 incentive that is contained in the Finance Bill. This is twice the incentive for e-bikes (€1,500) and more than the €1,250 incentive for bicycles available under the Bike to Work scheme. 

Typically, a cargo bike retails at between €2,800 and €8,000. Under the scheme, consumers can buy a bike from before-tax income, effectively making savings of up to 41% for those on the higher rate of tax.