Colorado wants to get more e-bikes into low-income communities — and it’ll pay organizations with ideas for how

Group entry grants take a extra focused and examined method to e-bike adoption. After the pandemic shut down public transportation, the Colorado Power Workplace launched a mini-pilot program to supply e-bikes to 13 important staff. It adopted up with a full-fledged pilot program to fund initiatives at 5 neighborhood teams throughout the state. 

Contributors tracked their commutes and grocery runs via a smartphone app developed by the Nationwide Renewable Power Laboratory. Early knowledge present contributors are utilizing their e-bikes for between 20 and 50 p.c of their whole journeys, relying on this system and time of 12 months.

The brand new grants will construct on that effort. Candidates can both present free e-bikes — together with helmets, locks and different tools — or set up applications to lend out e-bikes.

In both case, Thorne stated organizations ought to clarify how e-bikes would assist a selected set of staff — like lecturers or hospital staff — keep away from solo car journeys. She famous one pilot program in Durango gave e-bikes to 16 low-income restaurant staff with out handy transit entry. 

One other plus is a proposal with current and sustainable income sources, Thorne stated. 

Preliminary ideas are due by Dec. 15 and ultimate purposes have to be submitted by Jan. 4, 2023. The state plans to inform winners in February 2023. 

The grants and upcoming rebates are funded by air high quality laws accredited this 12 months. That cash runs out after two years, however there might be an urge for food to increase the state’s e-bike efforts. 

“We’re hoping there is likely to be some further laws this subsequent session,” Thorne stated.