I’d have a car-scrappage linked cargo bike / e bike grant scheme. Suspect that would be more effective re modal shift. Most C2W scheme users are already cycling to work and a good % never cycle to work.

Generally agree, and it may encourage manufacturers to be more realistic about their pricing. A cap much lower than £4000 might be a problem for the cargo bike market. Ok if buyers can “top up” with non salary sacrifice funds. Abolishing the scheme altogether would be pretty bad though.

East Anglia perhaps, but then you'll be complaining about the headwinds.

that would be telling! email me in the new year and I'll see what I can do.

This debate needs more light and less heat. Some useful analysis in the HoC library briefing note on asylum policy, including a data vis of where those granted asylum in the past decades have come from. Am sure not new to you but I thought it illuminating. Be interesting to see one on returns.

Of course you are, beg your pardon!

You may be right that the savings to the taxpayer (i.e. for schools and hospitals) aren't worth the administrative hassles. But I do think there should be more value models like there used to be, and I know the pre-2019 C2W scheme (i.e. with price cap) created a market for those, in the UK.

I agree with all that. But the cycle-to-work price cap in the past (i.e. prior to 2019) created a large UK market for solid, good-value models like the Genesis Croix de Fer. That was a good thing, in my opinion. From what I understand, Shimano Cues is a good thing on the value end the scale.

Enjoy that pint at the end. Jail Ale perchance?

They’re rumoured to be bringing in a mileage tax for EVs. And the tax breaks on EV purchases have been coming down. Genuine question: what % of bikes bought under the “cycle to work” scheme are ever actually cycled to work?

I only know what see here in the UK. And what I’ve heard from UK bike co’s who used to sweat bullets to get their key models below the £1000 cap, back when there was a cap. Since then there’s definitely been an attempt to walk consumers upwards in terms of price.

And introduce more generous a bike / e bike / cargo bike grant scheme linked to car scrappage, to reinforce the idea of modal shift.

Good piece. But how about the argument that a cap would put welcome downward pressure on bike prices, which have been shooting up in the past few years? £1000 cap led to classic value commuters models like Genesis Croix de Fer & much of the PlanetX range. Could have a higher cap for cargo bike.