Raleigh plans to launch program this summer to pay for your e-bike in exchange for usage data

The city of Raleigh is launching a new pilot program this summer to help people pay for electric bikes.

The Raleigh-E-Bike Incentive Program aims to encourage people to utilize e-bikes in their daily commutes for both work and leisure.

As of March 22, the city did not say when the program would launch on its website.

E-bikes have an electric motor to assist riders in pedaling, making it possible go farther, ride longer and carry more on a bike.

City leaders initially approved the pilot program in June 2023.

The city will use a $150,000 federal grant to fund the pilot program. The money comes from the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG).

All Raleigh residents are eligible to apply for a $500 voucher and those with incomes of 80% of Area Median Income (AMI) or less will be eligible to apply for a $1,500 voucher. People must be 18 or older when the application opens.

“In order to participate in the e‐bike voucher program, staff propose requiring participants to submit e‐bike usage data in a series of regular surveys,” a city memo reads about the proposed program. “This data will allow staff to review and evaluate the popularity and effectiveness of the program in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and providing affordable transportation options for the community.”

The city said it will select voucher recipients at random from the pool of applications once the application close.

City leaders said in June 2023 they plan to issue a total of 150 vouchers.