Decline in bicycle sales in Poland
As reported in the report VeloBankin which reference was made to Statista company datafrom 2021 number of bicycles sold in Poland has been steadily declining. In 2021, 1.46 million bikes were sold during the year, and sales are currently estimated to reach 1.21 million units in 2024.
It was emphasized that the size of the entire bicycle market in Poland is “small compared to other EU countries”. The value of our market is expected to reach PLN 4.9 billion (approx. EUR 1.15 billion) in 2024, which means that Poland ranks first in this respect in eighth place in the Union.
EU Bicycle Market Value Comparison
“Our market has less value than this one Belgium (1.43 billion euros) or Austria (1.6 billion euros), which have a population about 4 times smaller than ours. Similarly in Netherlands the bicycle market is 1.4 billion euros, and the country’s population is twice as small as Poland. Although the bicycle is for many of us recreational tool or commuting to work We do not buy such expensive bikes as residents of the Benelux countries,” said Piotr Arak, chief economist of VeloBank, quoted in the report.
“In addition, we quite often decide to secondary market purchases – at a lower price, not the original one, which causes the market to have a lower estimated value,” he added.
Rising prices of bicycles in Poland
As reported, average price of a new bike sold in Poland in 2023 is around PLN 3.8 thousand. “This relatively high price is due to the fact that the bikes themselves have become more expensive in recent years along with the wave Inflationbut also because we decide to buy more and more often electric bikeswhose price, due to the additional drive system, is higher than traditional bikes,” it was explained.
The report also indicated that share of electric bikes in the Polish market bicycle increases year by year. In 2020 it amounted to 16%, while in 2023 it already constituted a quarter of the market and was worth about PLN 1.25 billion.
The dominance of electric bikes in Germany
“Comparing our country to the largest market in terms of value, i.e. Germansthey are significantly ahead of us. In 2023, sales of electric bikes in their country were higher than traditional ones, reaching 53 percent,” indicated Piotr Arak.
He added that “in the coming years the development of electric bike sales may be faster than in Western Europe, but the barrier will remain price. In some countries, such as France, Italy and Germany, the demand for electric bikes has exceeded the demand for traditional bikes. Many of these countries have implemented subsidies for the purchase of electric bikes through electromobility development programs“.
Electric bike subsidy program in Poland
In mid-July, public consultations on the programme ended. National Fund for Environmental Protection and Water Management (NFOŚiGW) entitled “My electric bike“. The planned program provides subsidies for the purchase of new electric bikesincluding also to electric cargo bikes and bicycle cartsThe funding will be available to individuals, local governments and entrepreneurs specified in the draft program.
The program will be financed from Modernization Fund – the planned budget is PLN 300 million.
Details of funding from the NFOŚiGW program
“Funding is planned in the amount of up to 50 percent and no more than PLN 5,000 in the case of electric bikes and no more than PLN 9,000 in the case of electric cargo bikes and bicycle carts,” the Fund informed.
It will be possible to apply for funding buying a new bike and cargo bike with a width of up to 0.9 m, and also new bicycle cart with a width of more than 0.9 m. “It must be a vehicle powered by the muscular force of the person driving it, equipped with a pedal-activated auxiliary electric drivewhose output power decreases gradually and falls to zero after exceeding the speed of 25 km (as defined in the Act of 20 June 1997 – Road Traffic Law)” – explained the Fund.
According to the Fund announcement of the call for applications for grants It will probably not happen before 2025. (PAP)
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