Boulder has announced it will distribute another round of e-bike vouchers later this month to income-qualifying city residents.
The vouchers are to help pay a portion of the cost of a new electric bicycle. The amount of each voucher will depend on the e-bike type and the income level of the applicant. This year’s vouchers offer up to $2,100 for regular e-bikes and $2,700 for e-cargo bikes and adaptive e-bikes. The city is also offering voucher recipients a $200 starter kit voucher to buy helmets, child seats, bike locks and other basic bike equipment.
City officials hope the vouchers will increase access to e-bikes and incentivize people to use more environmentally friendly modes of transportation. The city gave out two rounds of the vouchers last year.
“We have seen a clear community need to offer targeted assistance for those who may find it difficult to purchase an e-bike without a discount,” Climate Initiatives Director Jonathan Koehn said in a release. “This program is one way we prioritize income equity as part of our climate actions, while also helping to improve air quality and community health through reduced vehicle pollution.”
To qualify for an e-bike voucher, participants must live in the city of Boulder, be at least 18 years old, and make no more than 80% of the area median income for their household size for Boulder County. For a single-person household, 80% of the area median income is $72,350.
Registration will open at 9 a.m. on Sept. 16 and close at 11 a.m. on Sept. 30. Participants will be able to register online at bouldercolorado.gov/e-bike-incentives. By 5 p.m. on Sept. 30, participants will receive an email from ebikesboulder@aptim.com to confirm whether they were selected, waitlisted or won’t receive a voucher this round. Voucher recipients will be chosen randomly and will be asked to provide proof of city residence and income within 96 hours of being selected.
Vouchers will be accepted at select bike stores in Boulder County and are valid in-store only. The city website will publish a list of participating bike shops within the next few weeks.
Funding for the vouchers comes from the local Climate Tax. Local nonprofit Community Cycles also helps support the city’s e-bike incentives.
More information is available on the program website at bouldercolorado.gov/e-bike-incentives.