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France offers each cyclist €50 for bike repairs once lockdown ends

cyclingweekly.com

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Re: France offers each cyclist €50 for bike repairs once lockdown ends

#21

Post by mytailorisrich »

SirLuxuryYacht wrote: post #16

Since this isn't just a €50 windfall direct deposited into their bank accounts, as in the IRS stimulus, it seems like the best approach towards getting people on bikes. If you are skeptical about whether or not this is a waste of government money, consider why you have not yet begun commuting by bike. The French just bought €300M worth of new bike highway and they want it to be used. What costs could outweigh better…

It does not get anyone on bikes since it targets people who already have bikes.

It is bizarre to think that people who have bikes were waiting for a €50 windfall before actually riding them.

Re: France offers each cyclist €50 for bike repairs once lockdown ends

#22

Post by ben_w »

GhostVII wrote: post #9

Do most people really need $50 for bike maintenance? I think I've spent about $15 on my beater bike over the last couple years, just to buy a new tube and maybe some wd40. For the vast majority of people I would imagine that they don't maintain their bike at all, modern bikes hold together pretty well.

£50 would get a bike shop to give you a brief look-over in the UK. I don’t know about France, as I can say it’s amazing how much prices can change over short distances.

Two years ago, I cycled 1050 km along the Rhine, and the bike needed work before and after, in addition to me using ~£15 of chain cleaner on the way.

Re: France offers each cyclist €50 for bike repairs once lockdown ends

#23

Post by SirLuxuryYacht »

GhostVII wrote: post #9

Do most people really need $50 for bike maintenance? I think I've spent about $15 on my beater bike over the last couple years, just to buy a new tube and maybe some wd40. For the vast majority of people I would imagine that they don't maintain their bike at all, modern bikes hold together pretty well.

You forgot the last few ingredients: time and know-how. Some can't be bothered to get their hands dirty, or are afraid of breaking something.

Yes, most people don't want to spend the effort fixing a bike.

Re: France offers each cyclist €50 for bike repairs once lockdown ends

#24

Post by SirLuxuryYacht »

alias_neo wrote: post #17

It's a nice gesture but hardly solves a problem. If the payment is for a mechanic to perform some "service" on your bicycle to make it roadworthy again, and from it you gain neither the tools nor the knowledge to perform two simple, necessary tasks for a cyclist; replace a tyre/inner tube, or replace a chain; what's the long term benefit? How about put 50 euros per cyclist into a tool kit, a dozen inner tubes and som…

But what about the economy? Jokes aside, bike mechanics have to pay rent too.

Re: France offers each cyclist €50 for bike repairs once lockdown ends

#25

Post by himinlomax »

GhostVII wrote: post #9

Do most people really need $50 for bike maintenance? I think I've spent about $15 on my beater bike over the last couple years, just to buy a new tube and maybe some wd40. For the vast majority of people I would imagine that they don't maintain their bike at all, modern bikes hold together pretty well.

It's a nudge, to get people on their bikes who wouldn't otherwise.

Re: France offers each cyclist €50 for bike repairs once lockdown ends

#26

Post by [deleted] »

GhostVII wrote: post #9

Do most people really need $50 for bike maintenance? I think I've spent about $15 on my beater bike over the last couple years, just to buy a new tube and maybe some wd40. For the vast majority of people I would imagine that they don't maintain their bike at all, modern bikes hold together pretty well.

[deleted]

Re: France offers each cyclist €50 for bike repairs once lockdown ends

#27

Post by hk__2 »

zymhan wrote: post #6

Let's be honest, 50 Euros per person is a drop in the bucket compared to the subsidies governments give to other modes of transportation.

> Let's be honest, 50 Euros per person is a drop in the bucket compared to the subsidies governments give to other modes of transportation.

And that’s largely sufficient. Having a bike doesn’t cost a lot per year: according to the FNAUT (Fédération des associations des usagers de transport), on average, bikers spend ~€0.21/km. An air chamber costs €5; an air pump (one-time purchase) is €10.

Re: France offers each cyclist €50 for bike repairs once lockdown ends

#28

Post by morrbo »

tentboy wrote: post #20
GhostVII wrote: post #9

Do most people really need $50 for bike maintenance? I think I've spent about $15 on my beater bike over the last couple years, just to buy a new tube and maybe some wd40. For the vast majority of people I would imagine that they don't maintain their bike at all, modern bikes hold together pretty well.

just an fyi since we are talking about bike maintenance - wd40 can be used to clean your drive train but then you are supposed to wipe it off and then apply actual chain lube. This is easily bought at any bike shop for well under the 50 Euros being offered here

Cyclist for years and never knew this. Thanks very very much

Re: France offers each cyclist €50 for bike repairs once lockdown ends

#30

Post by maelito »

a3_nm wrote: post #7

> The French government is slowly bringing its lockdown to a close from May 11, with cyclists allowed back onto the roads for the first time since March. To clarify, this is somewhat inaccurate: biking is permitted, and has always been permitted, during the French lockdown, as a judgment (in French) recently confirmed: https://www.conseil-etat.fr/actualites/actualites/le-gouvern... . Cyclists were just subject to the…

The french "interior ministry" lied about cycling on twitter, saying you weren't allow to go out for your daily 1h by bike. The law never said that. All the newspapers relayed this lie without checking this fact.
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