Registration for second round of City of Boulder e-bike vouchers opening Aug. 30

The City of Boulder is opening its second round of e-bike vouchers for city residents to help pay for part of the cost of a new electric bicycle (e-bike). Residents over the age of 18 can register online from Aug. 30 at 9 a.m. through Sept. 13 at 5 p.m. Discounts range from $300 to $1,400 depending on the type of voucher selected.

Through these incentives, the city seeks to expand access to e-bikes, encourage more sustainable ways of travel, and better understand the role e-bikes play in advancing Boulder's climate and transportation goals. Voucher recipients will be chosen by random selection to make the application process more equitable.

There are two types of vouchers: standard and income-qualified, with different discount amounts for e-bikes and e-cargo bikes, including adaptive e-bikes. Income-qualified recipients can also receive an additional $200 voucher for safety equipment, such as bike helmets, locks, lights and child seats. The city encourages those interested to review its Pre-Application Guide before registering.

The goal of including multiple rounds is to better understand community interest and adjust accordingly. Results from the first round showed more interest in income-qualified vouchers and in regular e-bikes. Based on these results, the city is adjusting the second round to distribute vouchers based on the proportional demand for each voucher type. However, at least half of the vouchers will continue to be dedicated to income-qualified recipients to ensure incentives go to those with the most financial need. Vouchers will be issued until funds for the incentives are spent.

All registrants are asked to participate in questionnaires to help the city understand how the incentives have impacted travel habits. City staff will collect results in the coming months and review learnings from the two rounds of vouchers to better understand the impact of e-bike incentives on Boulder’s climate and transportation goals. Results will be shared in 2024.

E-bike incentives are funded by the city's Climate Tax and supported by a partnership with local nonprofit Community Cycles. Visit the city’s E-Bike Incentives webpage to learn more, view the new Pre-Application Guide, and read answers to frequently asked questions.