Owning and riding an electric bike through the streets of Boston may soon become a reality for more residents, thanks to a new initiative the city announced on Monday. 

The pilot initiative will provide discount vouchers to eligible residents who want to purchase an e-bike for personal use. 

In a press release, the city said the goal is to address historic inequities in transportation access, accelerate the mode shift to sustainable transportation, and improve residents’ mobility options. 

The city will provide about 1,000 vouchers, ranging from $800 to $2,400, to help reduce the cost of purchasing an e-bike. 

Each recipient will also receive $150 toward bicycle safety equipment. 

The first round of applications for residents opened on Monday. 

“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,” said Mayor Michelle Wu in a statement. “This e-bike voucher program will help reduce emissions and expand transportation options for traditionally vulnerable residents.”

Here is what you need to qualify for the program.

The Boston resident must be over 18 years of age and fit one of the criteria:

• Income-eligible adults at or below 40% AMI
• Seniors over 60 years of age 
• Adult with a chronic or permanent disability 

Qualified applicants will be randomly selected to receive a voucher that can be used within 90 days in person at one of the participating bike shops. 

The pilot program is funded by $1.5 million in American Rescue Plan Act funding. 

E-bikes eligible for the program discount have a safety-certified rechargeable battery and pedal assist, which provides a more effortless riding experience. 

Cargo e-bikes can also be purchased through the program and have additional storage and passenger-carrying capacity. 

The program will also help purchase powered handcycle wheelchair attachments and adaptive e-bikes that can be modified to meet the needs of individuals with chronic disabilities. 

The application process for adults with permanent disabilities interested in powered handcycle wheelchair attachments or adaptive e-bikes runs from Aug. 5 to Sept. 5. All other eligible groups can apply between Aug. 12 and Aug. 24. 

The city will hold another application round in spring 2025. 

For more information on how to apply and program details, visit boston.gov/ebikes.

Increasing access to bike-share program

That’s not all. 

Boston is also launching a new campaign to encourage residents to apply for free or discounted memberships to the bike-share program Bluebikes. 

Dubbed “Get Your Pass in Gear,” the new program provides a $5 annual membership for income-eligible Boston residents and a $60 annual membership for Boston residents new to the Bluebikes system. 

Boston residents who have not had an annual Bluebikes membership in the last three years are eligible for the $60-a-year membership, which is $129 less than the regular rate. 

Those who qualify for MassHealth, SNAP, or meet income guidelines can get an even more reduced rate at $5 per year, compared to the regular income-eligible rate of $50 per year. 

Any Boston resident 16 years or older who meets income guidelines is eligible for the $5 annual pass, whether or not they have had a Bluebikes annual membership in the past. 

“Bluebikes is an important part of our public transit system that provides reliable, affordable biking options for riders of all levels,” said Jascha Franklin-Hodge, chief of streets, in a statement. 

To learn more about the Boston Bikes Pass, visit boston.gov/bluebikes.

BOSTON – A trip on a Duck Boat or trolley has become a staple activity for tourists in the city, however lately, traffic backups have been creating delays in city tours, and leaving guides with little stories left to tell.

Bike lanes, scooters causing delays

“It’s the perfect storm of many things going on in the city. We have new bike lanes, new bus lanes, which create some confusion and adjustments,” said Cindy Brown, CEO of Boston Duck Tours. “We have scooters going around which block the box, and can cause blocks and blocks of delays.”

Boston Duck Tours has seen a spike in people being late or missing tours because of traffic and parking issues for people getting to their services. Those who do get on, may be on for two hours instead of 80 minutes.

“Sometimes guests miss exciting areas of the city because we have to do work-arounds for traffic,” Brown said. “We built in some cushions on certain days with rush hour. We have extra ducks we keep throughout the day for a pinch.”

At times, they have to shorten parts of the tour, be it on the road or in the water, so they can make up for the time lags. Brown said the tours that approach two hours can be difficult for some riders because there are no bathrooms onboard.

“The planning makes sense. Bus lanes are great and bike lanes are great. The planning looks great on paper, but if the enforcement isn’t there it isn’t going to work,” Brown said. “If you have a road with two lanes, and one double-parker, all of a sudden Boylston Street is one lane. You can imagine how that backs up through Back Bay and beyond.”

Worse than during the Big Dig?

Old Town Trolley has drivers on routes for as long as three hours. Their service allows riders to get on and off and spots. 

Typically a trolley arrives every 15 minutes, but delays can have them showing up 30 to 40 minutes behind. Some of their drivers have told the company that the traffic is worse than before or during the Big Dig.

“They aren’t going to get off the trolley to have lunch at Newbury Street because they don’t know when the next trolley will get them,” said Old Town Trolley General Manager Tim Carr. “Some of these are baptism by fire. How many stories can you get through on four light cycles in Copley Square?”

City traffic solutions 

Carr said the city has been working with tour companies on possible solutions.

A statement from the Streets Department said: “The Streets Cabinet aims to design roadways that balance safe use by all modes. Part of safe design includes clearly defining and separating spaces for the most vulnerable users. The rise of all types of delivery, and a shift in commuting patterns, have changed traffic in Boston. Our engineers evaluate all bike safety projects to confirm that the new street configurations will support known traffic volumes and sizes of vehicles such as emergency vehicles, buses, or trolleys. Our overarching goal is to build streets where all users– pedestrians, drivers, bicyclists, and transit riders– can reach their destinations safely and reliably.”