E-Bike Incentives

If you have questions about which bike is right for you, or if you aren't sure a bike you're interested in is a standard e-bike or an e-cargo bike, please reach out to Community Cycles at ebike@communitycycles.org.

• E-bikes are bicycles with rechargeable batteries and an electric motor that gives riders a boost as they pedal.
• E-cargo bikes are designed to carry cargo or multiple people. They are typically larger and have a longer frame. Long tail, long john, Bakfiet and box bikes are all e-cargo bikes. Not every e-bike with a rack is considered an e-cargo bike. E-cargo bikes that qualify for a voucher must have a cargo capacity of 100 lbs. They can carry cargo or multiple people but tend to be more expensive and heavier than regularly sized e-bikes.
• Adaptive e-bikes are e-bikes designed specifically for people experiencing disabilities or riders that require extra stability. If you have balance issues, please be aware that some bikes, like tricycles, may be more difficult to balance than others. For support with choosing the right adaptive e-bike, reach out to ebike@communitycycles.org. For adaptive e-bike options that qualify for vouchers, reach out to ebikesboulder@aptim.com.

E-bikes have a range of benefits. They help people:

• Use their car(s) less and save money on gas.
• Bike longer distances and on tough terrain, like hills and dirt roads.
• Run errands and make shorter trips quicker while reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
• Provide first- and last-mile connections to public transit.
• Live healthier lives. They get users moving outside as they travel from one place to another.
• Improve the health of our community. E-bikes reduce air pollution from cars, which improves air quality.

You are eligible to participate if:

• You are a City of Boulder resident.
• Your age is 18 and older.
• Your income is at or below 80% area median income (AMI), as defined in the chart below. If your income is at or below 60% AMI, you are eligible for higher discounts. All selected applicants will need to provide proof of residency and proof of income qualification.

Amounts depend on your income and the e-bike voucher type. E-cargo and adaptive e-bike vouchers provide a larger discount, as they tend to be more expensive than regular e-bikes.

Voucher recipients can also opt-in for a $200 “Starter Kit" to encourage safe, frequent use of new e-bikes. Recipients can use the Starter Kit to purchase bike equipment such as helmets, child seats and bike locks.

*Voucher amounts may change at the discretion of the City of Boulder.

The estimated cost of e-bikes after the voucher is applied can range based on the price of the bike and voucher amount. We recommend you visit your local bike shops to learn more about e-bike pricing.

• More resources will be available soon about e-bike costs at participating bike shops.

Please also consider:

• This is a point-of-sale voucher, meaning voucher recipients will receive a discount at the time they purchase a bike.
• The voucher recipient is responsible for paying the difference between the purchase price of the e-bike and the voucher amount at the time of purchase.
• There is no minimum or maximum purchase price.
• The voucher also can not be used for sales tax.
• Leftover funds on a used voucher will be returned to the E-Bike Incentives program.

Not all e-bikes are the same. For support finding the right e-bike for your needs, contact a local participating bike shop or reach out to Community Cycles at ebike@communitycycles.org.

Eligible E-bikes

• You may use a voucher to purchase a new Class 1 and Class 2 road, hybrid, e-cargo or adaptive e-bikes. All participating bike shops stock Class 1 and Class 2 e-bikes. These bikes stop providing electric assistance once the bike reaches 20 mph.

All e-bikes must meet the following criteria:

• Be either a Class 1 or Class 2 e-bike.
  • Class 1: an electrical assisted bicycle equipped with an electric motor that provides assistance only when the rider is pedaling and that ceases to provide assistance when the bicycle reaches a speed of 20 mph.
  • Class 2: an electrical assisted bicycle equipped with an electric motor that provides assistance regardless of whether the rider is pedaling but ceases to provide assistance when the bicycle reaches a speed of 20 mph.
• The electric motor must be 750 watts or less and cannot be gas-powered
• The motor must be capable of being propelled by muscular power using the pedals, but it is not necessary to always be pedaling. In other words, you should have the option to manually pedal the e-bike forward without motor assistance.
• The e-bike must have an adjustable height seat (as it comes from the factory).

All e-cargo bikes must meet all of the following criteria:

• Must have an extended frame designed to carry additional people or cargo.
• Fall within the above definition of Class 1 or 2 e-bike
• Designed to carry one or more passengers in addition to the rider OR designed to carry heavier or bulkier loads than a traditional bicycle can carry
• Bike has an extended frame (long tail, long john, Bakfiet or box bike)
• Bike has a published cargo load carrying capacity of at least 100 lbs.

Not Eligible

• You may not use a voucher to purchase Class 3 e-bikes, used e-bikes, and full-suspension mountain bikes.

The program aims to support e-bikes that are allowed on all parts of the city’s bicycle network. Our sidewalks, multi-use paths and select open space multi-use trails work in combination with our streets to provide a comprehensive transportation network for bicycle travel. Because Class 3 e-bikes are not allowed on the city’s sidewalks, multi-use paths or the specific open space multi-use trails, only Class 1 and Class 2 e-bikes are eligible for the incentives. Learn more on the e-micromobility webpage.

E-Bikes At-a-Glance

For full details, view the City of Boulder Municipal Code.

A limited number of vouchers are available. Recipients will be randomly selected to make the program as equitable as possible.

The exact number of vouchers is unknown as the number will be distributed between two income bands and e-bike types based on the proportional demand for each voucher type. We will issue vouchers until voucher funds are spent.

All applicants must provide one of the following documents to show they are a city resident.

• Current valid Colorado Driver’s License or ID
• Computer Generated Bill (utility, credit card, doctor, hospital, etc.)
• Bank Statement
• Pre-Printed Pay Stub
• First-Class Mail (from a government agency or court)
• Current Homeowner's, Renter's, or Motor Vehicle Insurance Policy
• Mortgage, Lease, or Rental Contract
• Motor Vehicle Registration
• USPS Change of Address Form CNL107
• Military Service Form DD214

Individuals who are unable to provide any of these documents may be eligible to provide a letter from a known community organization stating they are unhoused, use their facility and services, and receive their mail there.

If you are randomly selected, you will need to provide related income-qualification documentation. All documents must be dated within one year of application. Once verified, you will receive your voucher.

Please note that Colorado State law restricts the use or disclosure of information concerning recipients of federally aided public assistance and welfare. Because of this, we cannot accept Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) or other federal assistance payments, social services and child welfare services documentation as proof of income.

Vouchers can be used in person at participating bike shops in Boulder County. E-bikes cannot be purchased online. Vouchers are redeemable at bike shops across Boulder County to provide recipients with a greater choice of e-bikes while supporting the local economy.

Voucher recipients can opt-in to receive $200 for a “Starter Kit” which can be used towards safety accessories including bike helmets, bike locks, bike lights and child seats.

Not all e-bikes are the same. The type of e-bike you ride changes where you are allowed to ride in the city.

You can ride Class 1 and 2 e-bikes on streets, bike lanes, multi-use paths, and sidewalks (except Dismount Zones — watch for signage to walk your bike instead). Class 1 and Class 2 e-bikes are also allowed on specific city trails.

• Learn more about which wheels go where

Wherever you ride, you must:

• Always yield to pedestrians and slower-moving traffic.
• Use an audible signal before passing on the left.
• Equip your e-bike with lights if riding at night.
• Except for accessibility purposes, must dismount in Dismount Zones.
• Must follow speed limits.
  • Multi-use path: 15 mph.
  • Crosswalks: 8 mph.
  • Residential streets: 20 mph.

• Learn more about Share the Path

Reach out to participating local bike shops or try out shared e-bikes.

At this time, plans for the release of future city E-bike Incentives are unknown.

No. At this time, city residents are limited to a lifetime maximum of one e-bike purchased through the city’s E-Bike Incentives Program, regardless of the e-bike type.

No. Vouchers from the city’s 2024 E-bike Incentives Program may not be combined with the State of Colorado E-Bike Tax Credit for the purchase of a single bike.

The State’s E-bike Tax Credit is available to all people living in Colorado and provides a $450 discount off of a qualifying e-bike purchase (at the point-of-sale) from a participating retailer, visit the Colorado Energy Office E-bike Tax Credit webpage.

E-Bike Incentives began in 2023, providing vouchers to help pay for part of the cost of an e-bike. Our goal is to encourage more sustainable, convenient and healthy ways to travel around town. The program is funded by the city's Climate Tax.

Results from the 2023 program displayed a need for targeted assistance toward community members who may find it difficult to purchase an e-bike without a discount. The new and improved 2024 program aims to prioritize income equity as part of the city's climate actions.

• Learn More on the Sustainability, Equity and Resilience Framework PDF