E Cargo Bike L'attuale panorama politico e le attività di abilitazione in tutta l'UE

The adoption of cargo bikes in Europe is not happening in isolation. A robust and well-coordinated policy ecosystem at the EU, national, and city levels is driving this transition, supported by financial incentives, infrastructure development, pilot programs, and public-private partnerships. Together, these initiatives create the conditions for cargo bikes to become a mainstream solution for urban mobility and logistics.

2.1 European Union cargo bike policy Frameworks and Directives

At the highest level, the European Union has laid out a strategic mandate for cargo bike adoption through a series of frameworks and directives. These policies are crucial for providing direction and consistency to member states and local governments.

Overview of Key Cargo Bike Subsidy Programs in Select EU Countries/Cities (2024-2025)

The European Green Deal: Driving Climate-Neutral Mobility

IL European Green Deal sets the ambitious target of making Europe the first climate-neutral continent by 2050, requiring a 90% reduction in transport sector CO₂ emissions. Cargo bikes play a central role in achieving this vision by replacing high-emission vehicles in urban areas.

Sustainable and Smart Mobility Strategy

Adopted in December 2020, IL Sustainable and Smart Mobility Strategy offers a roadmap for the EU’s green and digital transport transformation. Its policies influence actions through 2024 and beyond, focusing on multimodal integration, zero-emission vehicles, and urban logistics decarbonization, all of which directly support cargo bike adoption.

European Declaration on Cycling (2024)

In April 2024, the European Commission, Parliament, and Council jointly adopted the European Declaration on Cycling, a landmark political commitment that formally recognizes cycling as a full-fledged mode of transport.

• Contains eight core principles E 36 commitments aimed at integrating cycling into transport and infrastructure policy.
• Provides a strong political signal and framework for national and local cycling policies.

Expert Group on Urban Mobility (EGUM) and SULPs

IL Expert Group on Urban Mobility (EGUM) has been instrumental in turning high-level policies into operational strategies.

• Its 2023–2024 Work Programme included recommendations for Sustainable Urban Logistics Plans (SULPs), formally adopted in December 2024.
• Updated guidelines now integrate new elements such as:
  • Real estate market dynamics
  • Energy provision for e-mobility
  • Circular economy principles
  • Advanced digitalization tools (e.g., Digital Twins and AI)

These SULPs provide cities with frameworks to optimize urban freight systems while reducing emissions and congestion.

EU-Funded Projects and Initiatives

EU funding programs play a crucial role in supporting pilot projects, knowledge transfer, and awareness campaigns:

• City Changer Cargo Bike (CCCB):
  • Involves 20+ European partners, promoting cargo bike usage through training, try-out schemes, and innovative funding models.
  • Focuses on reducing adoption barriers for public, private, and commercial users.
• CIVITAS Initiative:
  • Highlights cargo bikes as a solution for urban challenges such as congestion, poor air quality, and noise.
  • Provides research, best practices, and support for cities piloting cargo bike schemes.

These EU-level projects amplify the reach of national and local initiatives, ensuring consistency and faster adoption.

Summary: A Cohesive Top-Down Commitment

The adoption of the EU Cycling Declaration (2024), the EGUM’s SULP recommendations, and the overarching Green Deal demonstrate a cohesive, top-down strategic effort to mainstream cargo bikes. These frameworks provide a clear mandate for national and local governments to act, fostering alignment across member states and accelerating uptake.

2.2 National and City-Level Policies and Best Practices

While EU-level frameworks set the strategic direction, national governments and individual cities are driving adoption through concrete measures. These range from financial incentives and subsidies A infrastructure investment, micro-hubs, and fleet integration programs.

Financial Incentives and Subsidies

High upfront costs remain a barrier to cargo bike adoption, especially for businesses and families. Many European governments have developed sophisticated subsidy programs to make cargo bikes more affordable:

Germania

• Federal grants cover up to 25% of e-cargo bike purchase costs.

Austria

• Salzburg: 30% subsidy (up to €250 for trailers, €800 for cargo bikes, €1,000 for e-cargo bikes).
• Vienna: 50% subsidy (up to €1,000 for e-cargo bikes), with higher subsidies for businesses and nonprofits.
• Stuttgart: Up to €1,100 for families/single parents, with staged payments (€600 upfront, €500 after three years).
• National Klimaaktiv program:
  • Up to €900 for private cargo bikes
  • 30% of costs for businesses and municipalities (min. 5 e-bikes)
• Graz: A pioneer in subsidies since 2011, offering €1,000 for commercial or shared cargo bikes.

Italy

• Offers a 30% tax credit (up to €2,000 annually) for micro and small businesses purchasing cargo bikes, under its 2021 Budget Law.

The Netherlands

• Extended Environmental Investment Deduction (MIA) E Vamil depreciation schemes through 2025:
  • MIA: up to 45% tax deduction
  • Vamil: 75% flexible depreciation
  • Eligibility now includes solar-powered cargo bikes and a minimum unladen weight (75 kg).
• Dutch company bike scheme allows employees to access tax advantages for bike purchases.

Image suggestion: A well-designed table (like the original Table 1) summarizing key cargo bike subsidy programs by country/city (Austria, Germany, Italy, Netherlands), including amounts, target groups, and eligibility.

Infrastructure Development

Adoption depends on infrastructure that accommodates the size and weight of cargo bikes:

• Copenhagen:
  • Updated Cycle-Friendly Infrastructure 2024 standards:
    • Wider cycle paths
    • Improved intersections
    • Gradients optimized for heavier cargo bikes
  • Results: 49% of all trips to work or school now made by bike.
• Berlin:
  • Introduced pop-up cycling lanes and is implementing its Berlin Mobility Act, a plan to become a “cycling city.”
• Amsterdam:
  • Removing 10,000 parking spaces in the city centre.
  • Enforcing Zero-Emission Zones (ZEZs) in 14 Dutch cities by January 2025, banning polluting vans and trucks.
• Oslo and Helsinki:
  • Investing in dedicated cargo bike lanes, secure parking, and charging stations.
• London:
  • Quadrupled its strategic cycle network to 360 km in 2024.
  • Goal: 40% of residents within 400 metres of a cycle route by 2030.

Image suggestion: Side-by-side images: Copenhagen’s wide bike lanes vs. Amsterdam’s emission-free urban delivery zones.

Urban Consolidation Centers (Micro-Hubs)

Micro-hubs are small, strategically located depots where goods are consolidated before the final leg of delivery by cargo bike.

• Prague:
  • Opened two cargo bike depots (2020, 2021), each handling 7,000 orders/month.
  • Serves up to 8 companies and was recognized by the Eurocities Awards 2021.
• Berlin:
  • Amazon opened a micromobility hub near Alexanderplatz in July 2024, aiming for 1.5 million parcel deliveries annually by cargo bike.
  • Amazon now operates 50+ hubs In 40+ European cities.
• Frankfurt:
  • Launched the LastMileTram project: parcels are delivered to the city centre by tram, then distributed by e-cargo bike.
• REWE Group (Germany):
  • Uses cargo bike hubs for urban grocery deliveries, run by specialist logistics partners.

Image suggestion: Diagram showing how goods flow from vans to micro-hubs to cargo bikes for last-mile delivery.

Public-Private Partnerships and Pilot Programs

Collaboration between public authorities and private sector players accelerates adoption:

• City Changer Cargo Bike (CCCB): EU-wide partnership sharing best practices and supporting pilots.
• Prague: Cargo bike depots created through close cooperation between logistics firms and city-run companies.
• Brussels cAIRgo bike project (2020–2023):
  • Assisted 500+ organizations in switching to cargo bikes.
  • Provided training, information, and trial programs.
• London’s TfL Cargo Bike Action Plan (2023):
  • Supports intermodal transport pilots (cargo bikes + boats/trains).
  • Promotes cargo bikes in low-traffic neighbourhoods.

Municipal Fleet Integration

Many cities are leading by example by replacing their own municipal service vehicles with e-cargo bikes:

• Used for city event logistics, green space management, and equipment transport.
• Brussels is piloting programs to fully replace municipal vans with cargo bikes.

Procurement policies increasingly favour vendors who can deliver by cargo bike, incentivizing businesses to make the switch.

Cargo Bike Sharing and Try-Out Schemes

Cargo bike sharing systems allow users to try cargo bikes without committing to purchase:

• Germany and Austria: 70+ community-led initiatives since 2013, including fLotte Berlin (120 cargo bikes).
• Survey: 35% of sharing users intend to buy their own cargo bike.
• Cities like Grenoble, Strasbourg, Hamburg, and Stuttgart are integrating cargo bikes into bike-sharing fleets.
• Brussels’ cAIRgo project found that training + test rides (“Testing is Adopting”) were critical to breaking adoption barriers.

Image suggestion: Photo collage of cargo bike sharing systems in Berlin and Brussels, with community members using them.

Comprehensive Approach: Hard and Soft Measures

Successful adoption requires integrated strategies:

1. Hard measures: Infrastructure, subsidies, micro-hubs
2. Soft measures: Awareness campaigns, training, trial schemes

Copenhagen’s decades-long investment in cycling culture illustrates that combining physical infrastructure with cultural and behavioural initiatives is essential.

Image suggestion (section closing): A split image showing cargo bike lanes (hard measures) and community cargo bike training workshops (soft measures).

Conclusion: Building a Policy Ecosystem for Transformation

The EU’s high-level policy frameworks, combined with targeted national and city-level initiatives, are laying the foundation for a cargo bike revolution.

• Financial support makes adoption feasible.
• Infrastructure improvements make usage practical and safe.
• Micro-hubs, sharing schemes, and public-private partnerships ensure scalable, long-term success.

This multi-layered policy ecosystem is essential for driving a sustained modal shift away from vans and trucks, helping Europe meet its climate, congestion, and public health goals.