City Launches E-Bike Lottery for Low-Income Residents, Berkeley, CA, 2023

The City of Berkeley is launching the Berkeley E-Bike Equity Project, an initiative that offers electric bikes to low-income residents for one year. Through this initiative, qualified residents can enter a lottery to receive an e-bike, helmet, bike lock, lights, and safe ride training if they meet any of the following criteria:

• Earn less than 80% of the Area Median Income;
• Receive discounted energy utility costs from the Pacific Gas and Electric Company;
• Participate in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, also known as food stamps);
• Receive Medicaid; or
• Receive Supplemental Security Income or State Supplementary Payments.

Applicants submitted applications in March 2023 to be considered for the lottery. The City of Berkeley will give away 50 bikes. Selected applicants must submit a $100 deposit upon receiving the bike, which will be refunded at the end of the one-year period. Participants can receive repairs quarterly at Waterside Workshops, a non-profit workforce training organization and bike shop. They are also required to report monthly odometer readings and complete four surveys over the course of the program.

The City of Berkeley is funding the Berkeley E-Bike Equity Project through its Climate Equity Pilot Fund approved by the City Council. This pilot is part of a budding trend where cities, utilities, and state governments are incentivizing the purchase and use of e-bikes as part of their environmental and transportation policies. The data that participants are required to submit can also help the City of Berkeley determine the impacts that e-bikes might have in replacing car trips.

Last updated March 10, 2023