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Boston to offer rebates to spur e-bike use among people who might not otherwise be able to afford them

By adamg on Mon, 08/05/2024 - 4:12pm

Mayor Wu announced today the city will offer vouchers, ranging in value from $800 to $2,400, to help lower-income residents, seniors and people with disabilities afford a battery-powered bicycle.

The city estimates it will give out a total of 1,000 vouchers, through a $1.5-million program funded by federal Covid relief funds.

To qualify for the Boston E-Bikes Incentive Program, a person must be a Boston resident over 18 years old who fits at least one of the criteria: income-eligible adult (at or below 40% AMI), a senior over 60 years of age, or an adult with a chronic or permanent disability. Qualified applicants will be randomly selected to receive a voucher that can be used within 90 days in person at one of the participating bike shops.

E-bikes eligible for the program discount have a safety-certified rechargeable battery and a pedal assist that provides a more effortless riding experience. They can give access to biking for people with mobility challenges, or residents who need to travel long distances or up hilly terrain. Cargo e-bikes, which can also be purchased through the program, have additional storage and passenger-carrying capacity. In addition to traditional e-bikes, the program will provide support toward the purchase of powered handcycle wheelchair attachments and adaptive e-bikes that can be modified to meet the needs of individuals with chronic disabilities.

The vouchers will also come with a $150 credit toward the purchase of bike-safety equipment,

In a statement, Wu said the program will help people in vulnerable groups more easily get around the city - and help reduce overall carbon emissions.

Applications for e-bike rebates will be available and have to be filed between Aug. 12 and Aug. 24, at boston.gov/ebikes. Applications for powered handcycle wheelchair attachments are available now through Sept. 5 at that address. The city will then use a lottery to select voucher recipients. A second voucher lottery will be held in the spring.

The city will host e-bike fairs at City Hall and in Mattapan to show off available e-bikes.

Neighborhoods: 
Boston
Free tagging: 
Bicycling


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Comments

By anon on Mon, 08/05/2024 - 4:18pm.

Because we have an anticipated budget shortfall. While small, why are we adding new line items to a budget that we cant already afford.

By adamg on Mon, 08/05/2024 - 5:39pm.

The ARPA money from the feds can only be spent on specific capital-ish things, and has to be spent by a certain date or it goes away.

The city's main source of funding for day-to-day operations, by far, is property taxes, which could be affected by continuing downtown office vacancies as property owners ask for - and get, decreases in their assessed values, which determines in part how much they have to pay in taxes.

By anon on Mon, 08/05/2024 - 4:32pm.

I’m as big of a cycling advocate as anyone (though McGrory’s column re Boylston Street today was awful), but aside about the part about folks w/disabilities, this is a complete boondoggle.

By _Sean on Mon, 08/05/2024 - 5:27pm.

Ummm....instead of subsidizing 1,000 people with one-time purchases, why not give 2,500 city residents $600 vouchers/codes that can be used for e-bikes on our Blue Bike system? This way the funds both help those use ebikes, while also ensuring the funds help further build-out the Blue Bike program? Seems like a real missed opportunity...

By cybah on Mon, 08/05/2024 - 5:37pm.

Are already heavily subsidized. And if you are on MassHealth or some other assistance program you qualify for like rides that cost a buck with a free membership.

Or at least this is how it was a few years ago.

Yeah you could argue that it would make rides free but still.

With this consumers get a rebate on their choice of an eBike maker. And its theirs to keep.

By Rwgfy on Mon, 08/05/2024 - 5:31pm.

Is it going to be like with handicapped placards? Are electric scooters eligible?

By StillFromDorchester on Mon, 08/05/2024 - 5:33pm.

COVID funds for e bike vouchers?

By anon on Mon, 08/05/2024 - 5:34pm.

What the voters want to know is how much is this costing the tax paying homeowners?

By adamg on Mon, 08/05/2024 - 5:41pm.

See the answer above.