Running errands and getting to work could become an easier task for hundreds of low-income and disabled Boston residents, thanks to a pilot program to help people pay for electric-motor-assisted bicycles.
The Boston E-Bikes Incentive Program will provide around 1,000 vouchers worth from $800 to $2,400 to help cut the costs of buying an “e-bike,” or electric-motor-assisted bicycle. Each person eligible to receive the voucher will also get $150 to help pay for safety equipment such as helmets.
“… We want to ensure that all of our residents have transportation options that are convenient, affordable, and sustainable for their individual needs,” said Mayor Michelle Wu, in a statement. “This e-bike voucher program will help reduce emissions and expand transportation options for traditionally vulnerable residents.”
Launched earlier in August, the program is for personal use only. To apply for the voucher, residents of Boston must be older than 18 years of age and meet certain low-income requirements or be a senior over 60 years of age or have a chronic or permanent disability. Those will apply will be selected at random after being assessed for their eligibility.
The pilot program is funded with $1.5 million in American Rescue Plan Act money. Only e-bikes that come with safety-certified rechargeable battery and a pedal assist are allowed to be purchased through the program. Handcycle wheelchair attachments or adaptive e-bikes are also able to be purchased and the application time run is through Sept. 5. Traditional e-bike voucher applications are accepted through Aug. 24.
Alex Salcedo, e-bike program manager for MassBike, said that though a similar program in Worcester, several benefits were seen with the use of the bikes, “especially to people who may not consider themselves everyday riders.”
“Riding bikes has improved participants’ health and mental wellness, lowered the costs of transportation, expanded connections to the community, and introduced the joy of bicycling to more people. We’re expecting great success from this program in Boston,” said Salcedo in a statement.
The city will hold another application round in spring 2025. More information can be found at
www.boston.gov/ebikes.
