Portland’s climate action fund is aiming to increase access to electric bikes for moderate- to low-income residents. The fund plans to invest $20 million over the next five years, but will first need the City Council’s authorization to begin searching for at least five program administrators.
The Portland Clean Energy Fund’s E-bike Access and Support program could provide rebates for at least 6,000 least moderate- to low-income Portlanders to buy electric bikes by 2028. That includes traditional e-bikes, cargo e-bikes and adaptive e-bikes.
The program would also develop e-bike training for 50 mechanics and develop a pilot program for e-bike storage and charging at multi-family buildings.
An e-bike is seen at a retail store in Glenview, Ill., Wednesday, July 20, 2022.
Nam Y. Huh / AP
During a City Council meeting on Wednesday, Seetha Ream-Rao, PCEF’s transportation decarbonization program lead, said the goal is not only to increase e-bike access, but also to provide an option for people who can’t afford electric vehicles, even with the state’s EV credits. The city’s e-bike program could also reduce greenhouse gas emissions from gas-powered vehicles that could also help reduce air pollutants tied to those vehicles.
According to Ream-Rao, the transportation sector makes up 44% of overall carbon emissions in Multnomah County. She said the e-bike initiative will be an important tool to help the city reach its net zero goal by 2050. “Which means reducing those fossil fuel car trips is absolutely essential to meeting Portland’s net zero goals,” she said.
A recent survey showed the average daily trip in the Portland Metro area was 6 miles, and 80% of those trips were completed by a gas-powered vehicle. That’s a distance that can be covered by an e-bike, Ream-Rao said.
PCEF staff are currently seeking City Council’s authorization to begin setting up the program. That includes identifying key staff, establishing electric bike mechanic training, and developing electric bike charging. The fund is also seeking an evaluator that would develop criteria for the success of the program.
Related: New Portland city data shows cycling up 5% from 2022
E-bikes often range from a couple thousand dollars to more than $5,000 for a cargo e-bike. Adaptive e-bikes could cost thousands more, depending on the changes needed to fit the rider.
Rebates will be based on the type of e-bike and income level, but everyone who gets an e-bike through the program will receive a $200 safety rebate to help purchase a helmet or quality lock.
PCEF staff expect the program to be running by next summer.
City Council is scheduled for a vote on July 10 to authorize the search for program administrators.
E-bikes as ‘a gateway to cycling’
During public testimony, River City Bicycles store manager Hayes Kenny said providing incentives for people to get good quality e-bikes will not only ensure the bikes will last but also provide the community with economic and environmental benefits from the transition from gas-powered vehicles to electric.
“E-bikes have provided a gateway to cycling for a lot of people coming from a noncycling background, and the bikes really open up possibilities for car-free transportation for many of our riders,” he said.
The bike shop has been in business since 1995 and e-bikes sales have increased in the last five years, he said.
Rebates will help get even more people on e-bikes, Kenny said, but rebates should reduce the price enough for everyone to be able to afford them.
“One of the main barriers to entry into this sphere of car-free transportation is the cost,” he said. “There’s no getting around the fact that a safe, reliable, well-made and easy-to-use e-bike costs more at retail than many folks can easily afford.”
Kenny said many people hesitate to buy e-bikes when they see a high price tag and PCEF’s e-bike rebates should be significant enough to help residents afford an e-bike in the $3,000 range.
“Meaningful actions the city can take to incentivize e-bikes will only benefit the community at large and help cement our position as a city leading the way into the future with less traffic, happier residents and clean air,” Kenny said.