The first round of applications for the Boston E-Bikes Incentive Program opened Monday, with the pilot initiative set to provide discount vouchers to residents who have a disability, are over age 60, or are low-income, the mayor’s office said.
The new program aims to address transportation access inequalities, increase mobility options, and improve sustainability, Mayor Michelle Wu’s office said in a statement.
“Boston is a city always on the move, and we want to ensure that all of our residents have transportation options that are convenient, affordable, and sustainable for their individual needs,” Wu said in the statement. “This e-bike voucher program will help reduce emissions and expand transportation options for traditionally vulnerable residents.”
The program, which received $1.5 million from the American Rescue Plan Act, will provide about 1,000 vouchers for amounts ranging from $800 to $2,400 to eligible recipients. Recipients will also receive $150 for bicycle safety equipment, the statement said.
To be eligible, an applicant must be a Boston resident over age 18 who is at or below 40 percent of the area median income, is over 60 years of age, or has a chronic or permanent disability, according to the statement. Recipients will be randomly selected and then can use the vouchers within 90 days in person at a participating bike shop, the statement said.
“E-bikes and adaptive e-bikes make active mobility an option for older adults and some people with disabilities,” said Jascha Franklin-Hodge, the city’s chief of streets, in the statement.
E-bikes eligible for purchase through the program must include safety-certified rechargeable batteries and pedal assists, and the pilot program will also support the purchase of powered handcycle wheelchair attachments and e-bikes adapted for the needs of those with chronic disabilities, Wu’s office said.
“We are excited to see the City of Boston offer incentives to lower the costs for their residents to use electric bicycles to get around,” Alex Salcedo, e-bike program manager for MassBike, said in the statement, going on to cite a Worchester program in which MassBike has provided e-bikes to lower-income residents. “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.”
Eligible residents can try out bikes and get assistance filling out applications at “Try an E-Bike,” a free event hosted by the Boston Bikes team in August, the statement said.
Applications close Sept. 5 and will reopen in spring 2025. More information about applications and program details can be found at boston.gov/ebikes.
Kiera McDonald can be reached at kiera.mcdonald@globe.com.
