Several parties will punish those who take the car and not the bicycle to work. Now Tax Minister Rasmus Stoklund will look into the matter.
Tax Minister Rasmus Stoklund (S) is now opening up the possibility of punishing those who do not choose to cycle to work, as part of a wider discussion on promoting the use of the bicycle.
He states that tax policy can be a tool to influence the Danes' choice of means of transport, and thus get more people to choose the bicycle over the car.
In a written response, Stoklund emphasizes that the tax system should be used actively to support desired behavioral changes, including more cycling trips to and from work.
– The tax system must be used to promote what we would like to have more of, and therefore I am open to working further with proposals and ideas on how, through tax policy, we can make it attractive to jump on the bike instead of sitting behind it the steering wheel, he says to Ritzau.
Although the tax minister does not present concrete proposals, the debate is already underway among several parties.
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A little over a week ago, Alternativet presented a plan to make it more attractive to cycle to work. A central element in their proposal is a special transport allowance for cyclists, where they can get three kroner per kilometer in commuting allowance for distances between 2 and 24 kilometres.
The alternative's proposal has the support of several parties. SF and Enhedslisten support the idea of introducing a free bicycle scheme, reminiscent of the existing free car scheme, where companies can make bicycles available to employees.
The Liberal Alliance mentions a model from Dansk Industri, where employers can make bicycles available, which can be used both during working hours and on the way to and from work.
Although Rasmus Stoklund did not have the opportunity to comment on the Alternative's proposal immediately afterwards, because he was on holiday, his position is a continuation of previous announcements from the previous tax minister Jeppe Bruus.
Already this summer, Bruus stated that he would work on tax initiatives that can promote the use of bicycles. The new minister agrees with this ambition.
– Like my predecessor, I have an ambition that it should be easy and attractive to make green and healthy choices, including taking the bike to work, says Stoklund.
According to the European Cyclists' Association, Denmark is the only EU country that has not yet introduced tax benefits for cyclists.
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