LEZ’s (low emission zones) are soon to be introduced in Aberdeen, Dundee, Glasgow and Edinburgh and polluting vehicles will face penalties when they enter. The applications for electric bikes are now available to the residents living near Scotland’s planned LEZs. Residents can apply for up to two £500 grants to use to purchase an electric bike, normal bike or even public transport vouchers. Furthermore micro-businesses and sole trades will have access to the LEX Mobility Fund which will provide £2,500 to replace every non-complaint vehicle with a suitable one, an electric vehicle or e-cargo bike for example.
A city wide LEZ area has been proposed in the capital for buses and commercial vehicles, but polluting cars will be subject to a more specific, city centre zone. This zoning was intended to be introduced in 2020 but was pushed back due to the pandemic.
£2m is being allocated for the LEZ Mobility Fund by Transport Scotland and intends to provide households within 20km of the LEZ with a grant up to £2,000 to purchase an alternative and less polluting vehicle to their current one. This is alongside the £500 grants for each adult in the household (up to two adults) for purchase of a sustainable mode of transport.
Businesses with nine employees or fewer (classified as ‘micro-businesses’) will have the opportunity to secure £2,500 per vehicle to replace their current ‘non-complaint’ vehicle.
It is refreshing to see such support for households, individuals and businesses regarding the move of the city to a more electric based transport model. Michael Matheson, the Cabinet Secretary for Transport, Infrastructure and Connectivity commented that the transition in our four biggest cities must happen in a fair and a just way”
This is important because we see in other cities that those most directly impacted by this new wave of sustainability movements by cities, is those from lower-income households, gig - economy workers and others who cannot afford the high entry-level prices of electric transport.
Let’s hope that this sustainability project will bring positive changes in the air quality of the cities and, in the greater picture the global climate, without disenfranchising those who are already struggling the most.
Purchase electric bikes, electric scooters, electric transport and more at URBAN ELECTRO Northampton. We have a delivery service available for those who are in the greater area for a fee.