A D.C. councilmember wants to make buying an electronic bike more affordable.
Ward 2 Councilmember Brooke Pinto introduced a bill to create a rebate program that would partially reimburse residents who buy an e-bike from a retailer in the District.
Most residents could receive an instant rebate of $400 or 30% of the bike’s purchase price — whichever is lower — or $500 for cargo electric bicycle models.
A higher rebate — up to $1,200 or 75% of the price of the e-bike — would be available to residents who earn below 80% of the median family income (currently $79,700 for a single-person household or $113,850 for a family of four, according to D.C. agencies). Half of the rebates would be reserved for that group of residents.
We're making it easier for you to find stories that matter with our new newsletter — The 4Front. Sign up here and get news that is important for you to your inbox.
There’s also a provision allowing rebates for businesses that show they would use e-bikes to reduce motor vehicle use.
More than 3,000 rebates would be available each year under The Electric Bicycle Incentive Kickstarting the Environment (E-BIKE) Act of 2023.
Pinto tells our partners at WTOP that she hopes to have the bill passed and funded by the end of the year.