NOTICE EXCLUDED. Toulouse Métropole includes bikers in the ZFE bonus
They considered themselves “the forgotten ones” of the ZFE’s financial aid plan. This Friday, November 25, during the follow-up committee of the Toulouse Métropole ZFE, the announcement fell. François Chollet, vice-president of Toulouse Métropole in charge of ecology and in particular of the ZFE, announced that motorcyclists could now benefit from the “vehicle + clean” bonus. The objective is to renew the car-motorcycle fleet to reduce the carbon footprint.
>> READ ALSO: ZFE in Toulouse: new restrictions from September 1
The ZFE in Toulouse
As a reminder, the ZFE is a geographical area in which the most polluting motorized vehicles can no longer circulate. In force since March 1, 2022 in Toulouse, this measure has been gradually deployed by the Metropolis in accordance with the law passed by the Government for environmental and health reasons. In Toulouse, it covers an area of 72 km², including Toulouse as well as part of Colomiers and Tournefeuille.
Toulouse Metropolis
>> READ ALSO: Environment: with the arrival of the ZFE, what consequences for Toulouse?
What are the aids from Toulouse Métropole for the ZFE?
The ZFE involves the renewal of the car-motorcycle fleet by 2024. To support these changes, the Métropole offers financial aid to individuals and professionals to acquire a new “cleaner” vehicle, therefore less emissive. These aids intervene to participate in the replacement, the localization or the change of motorization of the vehicles.
To benefit from it, users must belong to one of the 37 municipalities of Toulouse Métropole and justify a tax income below the threshold of 35,052 euros per share. He must also be the owner of a Crit’Air NC/5/4 certified polluting vehicle.
Engines now needed
Until then, bikers were not eligible for the financial assistance plan of the EPZ. “It was a request that had been requested from us several times but to which we had not yielded because it did not seem essential to us”, explained François Chollet, contacted by The Independent Opinion this Friday, November 25. For good reason, the Métropole considered that the percentage of motorcycles of criteria 4 and 5 was too low and that the cost of replacing the motorcycle fleet was lower than that of cars, utility vehicles and heavy goods vehicles. Nevertheless, Toulouse Métropole reconsidered its decision.
In 2024, the ZFE will come into full effect, so it seems important to us to respond favorably to the eligibility of two-wheelers for the Métropole bonus”, announces François Chollet.
The eligibility criteria for this “vehicle + clean” bonus will be the same as for other users. This measure will be voted on by the Metropolitan Council on January 1, 2023.
An “interesting, but not sufficient” ad
However, the announcement does not change the situation for bikers. The latter are still opposed to the project of EPZ. Qualified as an “anti-social measure” by the Fédération Française des Motard en Angère de Haute-Garonne (FFMC 31), this measure is not enough to make people prefer a balance in favor of EPZ. Contacted by The Independent OpinionAgnes Grillou, FFMC 31 Deputy Secretary, was present at the ZFE monitoring committee on Friday 25 November. She estimates:
Whether for motorists or bikers, this measure is interesting Corn it is insufficient. Thanks to this subsidy, some will be able to buy a new vehicle but most will not be able to afford it, even with aid.
To protest against the establishment of the EPZand also against the technical control of the bikers, the bikers delivered a snail operation this Saturday, November 26 in Toulouse.