Columbus City Council last night approved legislation allocating $250,000 to establish an e-bike rebate program that would be administered by Smart Columbus.
“Transportation is the leading contributor to climate change in Columbus and working class residents often have limited choices about how to get around,” said Councilmember Lourdes Barroso de Padilla, in introducing the legislation. “In light of these facts, the city of Columbus is excited to launch this pilot e-bike discount program.”
Electric bikes come equipped with a rechargeable battery that provides a pedal-activated boost (known as a pedal-assist system). That means the motor kicks in when you are pedaling, making it easier to climb hills, haul heavier loads, get going from a stop, and generally maintain a faster cycling speed than on an ordinary bike.
Although Columbus hasn’t seen the same type of growth in e-bike sales as some other areas, the bikes are definitely gaining in popularity here.
E-bikes typically cost significantly more than traditional bikes, and a handful of other cities have established rebate programs recently to help offset that cost and spur more people to buy them.
The programs have proven to be very popular. Denver started offering rebates in April of this year – $400 for regular e-bikes, $1,200 for income-qualifying residents, and an additional $500 for cargo e-bikes – and about 3,000 of the vouchers were snapped up by residents in the first month of the program.
The Denver effort started with the same amount of funding as the new Columbus program – $250,000 – but the city had to stop giving vouchers out after that money was exhausted. Additional funds have since been committed to the program, which is now set to resume in 2023.
Columbus residents eager to know how much of a discount the city’s new program will offer and what the eligibility requirements will be will have to wait for those details to be revealed.
“I know folks are probably very excited about their e-bike rebate, but we’ll officially launch the program in spring [and] we’ll announce more details as the program is further developed,” Barroso de Padilla said at the council meeting.
“Together with Smart Columbus, we’re working to develop the program based on feedback from residents and transportation advocates,” she added. “As the city continues to advance Vision Zero, LinkUs, and improve bike facilities, this is one more way to provide residents with transportation choices.”
OSU Professor Harvey Miller, who serves as the Director of the Center for Urban and Regional Analysis and has often advocated for more investment in alternative modes of transportation in Columbus, said that he is “very happy to see this new program…and I hope it’s only the beginning of something bigger.”
“E-bikes are the true urban mobility revolution, not electric vehicles (EVs),” he added. “EVs are still cars, and have a lot of the same problems as cars – such as congestion, safety and social inequity.”
“E-bikes are more efficient, and open cycling to a much wider range of people and their abilities,” Miller said. “By encouraging e-bikes, we are also helping to build support for protected bike infrastructure, something Columbus desperately needs.”
Also approved during last night’s meeting was $100,000 of funding to be allocated to two new programs – a pilot project meant to reduce speeding on Thurman Avenue (between South Champion Avenue and Lockbourne Road), and an effort to build new “mobility hubs” throughout the city.
The hubs will vary in their design depending on site conditions but could contain bike racks, scooter parking, seating, or other items like public art, Barroso de Padilla said.
For more information, see columbus.gov/publicservice.
Additional Reading:
E-Bikes Starting to Catch on in Columbus
Update 4/23/23: A survey is being conducted to gauge interest in Columbus’s E-Bike Incentive Pilot Program. Take the survey here.
“Thank you for taking a few minutes to answer questions and tell us about your interest in Columbus’s E-Bike Incentive Pilot Program. This information will be used to help us design a program that better meets the needs and expectations of Columbus residents. Completing this form does not affect your eligibility to participate in the program and does not guarantee that you will receive an incentive.”