The portal for applications for the government’s bicycle purchase subsidy scheme crashed on Monday, the first day of operation, due to “excessive simultaneous interest”, the transport ministry said.

Announcing the suspension of the operation of the podilato.goc.cy electronic portal, the ministry said the number of people who showed interest “was many times higher than expected”.

The ministry did not announce when the public will be able to submit their applications, which will be examined on a first-come first-served basis.

“The public will be informed at a later stage about the new date for submitting electronic applications,” the announcement added.

The €570,000 scheme, which is part of the €4m Energy and Climate and sustainable mobility national scheme, provides subsidies for the purchase of city bikes, road bikes, mountain bikes, and bikes for people with disabilities.

The subsidy for city, road, and mountain bikes will be up to €200 for bicycles of up to €1,000 including VAT.

Bicycles for people with disabilities will be subsidised with up to €800 or the purchase price, whichever is lower.

Eligible parties are Cypriots and other European citizens and third-country nationals residing permanently in the Republic, who are over 18. Each person will be subsidised for the purchase of one bicycle.