Does such a scheme exist in Zurich?
In the UK, there's a scheme called "Cycle/bike to work" where you can purchase a bike (really, its an up to 5 year hire agreement with purchase of the bike afterwards for a nominal amount) where sums of money are taken out of your gross salary to hire the bike. It works out as a nice reduction on the total cost of the bike.
No, there is nothing like this.
Yes, there is a scheme called "Bike to work", but I don't know that it will help you fund your bicycle. I think it is intended more as a bit of encouragement, so that work colleagues spur each other on to make the switch from cars to cycling.
https://www.biketowork.ch/en/company...SAAEgJb4fD_BwE
There are some benefits, too:
Yep, I'm doing that. It's every year from 1st - 31st May. Since the pandemic, they have also extended it to encourage people to bike before/after work on home office days, in addition to biking to/from work. You log your daily kilometres in an app, and can measure yourself against members of your own team or other teams.
I certainly find it a good incentive. Last year I did about 650 km in May, which is about 600 more than I would have done without the initiative. Not got off to such a good start this year given the wet weather last week.
You can deduct 700 chf per year from your taxes for commuting by bicycle.
Hey Mary,
Many of the communes near to where I live (Lausanne/Morges region) subsidize the purchase of an e-bike, I think they offer around 1000 CHF. Perhaps ask at your Geminde if they have a similar program?
B.
Bike to work is a scheme to encourage - biking to work. The program has nothing to do with funding bikes.
Yes, you're right. The few other discounts, e.g. helmets, lights, etc. are nice cherries, though.