City Offers E-Bike Rebates to Low-Income Individuals, Bend, OR, 2023

The City of Bend has earned a $150,000 Mobility Grant from Pacific Power, a utility company, to support an electric bike rebate program. When this program launches, 75 low-income participants will receive rebates of $2,000 to purchase e-bikes at participating vendors in Bend. To qualify for the subsidy, applicants must meet the following criteria:

1. Be at least 18 years of age;
2. Reside in the City of Bend;
3. Be a client of Pacific Power; and
4. Live at or below 80% of the median area income threshold.

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis, and 75 rebates will be awarded through a lottery process. Recipients of the rebate are required to complete an e-bike safety course after their selection in the lottery. Commute Options, a transportation management association, has contracted with the City of Bend as the disperser of the grant funds. Recipients can apply their rebates to e-bike purchases at four local retailers.

Utilities, cities, and states are increasingly offering rebates for e-bike purchases to address transportation insecurity and promote cycling. Electric bikes provide additional levels of utility compared to standard bikes due to their ability to move users longer distances. E-bikes often replace car trips in some instances. Hopefully, rebate and subsidy programs like this will continue to expand to other communities in the long term.

Last updated January 25, 2023