E-Bike Incentives

• Registration Period: July 6 at 9 a.m. to July 19 at 5 p.m.
• Notification: once the registration period closes, a list of 200 applicants will be generated through an automated random selection process. You should receive an email by July 20 at 5 p.m. letting you know if you are selected to complete the application, are on the waitlist, or were not selected to receive a voucher this round. Please check your inbox and spam folders for an email from ebikesboulder@aptim.com.
  • The city will randomly select applicants for each voucher type to be on a waitlist in case selected recipients do not complete their application.
• Completing the Application: recipients will have 96 hours (by July 24 at 5 p.m.) to submit proof of residency in the City of Boulder. Income-qualified recipients will also need to provide income-related documentation.
• Receiving Your Voucher: Vouchers are issued as soon as documentation is reviewed and verified. Voucher recipients have 45 days from the time they receive their voucher to purchase an e-bike

• Registration Period: Aug. 30 at 9 a.m. to Sept. 13 at 5 p.m.
  • Please review our Pre-Application Guide before registering.
• Notification: once the registration period closes, a list of applicants will be generated through an automated random selection process to proceed to the next step. You should receive an email by Sept. 14 at 5 p.m. letting you know if you are selected to complete the application, are on the waitlist, or were not selected to receive a voucher this round. Please check your inbox and spam folders for an email from ebikesboulder@aptim.com.
• The city will randomly select applicants for each voucher type to be on a waitlist in case selected recipients do not complete their application.
• Completing the Application: recipients will have 96 hours (by Sept. 18 at 5 p.m.) to submit proof of residency in the city of Boulder. Income-qualified recipients will also need to provide income-related documentation.
• Receiving Your Voucher: vouchers are issued as soon as documentation is reviewed and verified. Voucher recipients have 45 days from the time they receive their voucher to purchase an e-bike.

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.

Adaptive e-bikes are e-bikes designed specifically for people experiencing disabilities or riders that require extra stability.

If you have questions about which bike is right for you, reach out to Community Cycles at ebike@communitycycles.org.

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

• 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.

New class 1 and 2 road, hybrid, e-cargo and adaptive e-bikes are eligible. Class 3 e-bikes, used e-bikes, and full-suspension mountain bikes are not eligible.

If you have questions about e-bike types or need support with finding an eligible bike, contact a local participating bike shop or reach out to Community Cycles at ebike@communitycycles.org.

Eligible e-bikes classes:

• 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 m.p.h.

• 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 m.p.h.

All e-bikes must meet the following criteria:

• 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.

E-bikes at-a-glance

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

Learn how to choose an e-bike that fits your needs.

• Check out Community Cycle's guide.

The incentives aim 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 travel by bicycle.

Because Class 3 e-bikes are not allowed on the city’s sidewalks, multi-use paths or the specific open space multi-use trails that started allowing e-bikes on July 1, only Class 1 and Class 2 e-bikes are eligible for the incentives.

Learn more on the e-micromobility webpage.

All participating bike shops stock Class 1 and Class 2 e-bikes. For support finding the right e-bike, contact Community Cycles at ebike@communitycycles.org.

*Please note: 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.

E-cargo bikes generally cost more than e-bikes. Review the chart below for estimates.

Please also consider:

• This is a point-of-sale voucher, meaning voucher recipients will receive a discount when they purchase an e-bike.
• The voucher recipient is responsible for paying the difference between the purchase price of the e-bike and the voucher amount.
• There is no minimum or maximum purchase price. However, the voucher discount amount cannot exceed the purchase price of the e-bike, nor can it include taxes or shipping costs.

Explore Community Cycles’ Voucher-Eligible E-Bikes guide for a list of qualifying e-bikes by price.

Only city of Boulder residents over the age of 18 are eligible. All applicants will need to provide proof of residency.

Standard Voucher: Residents of any income level can apply to the standard voucher.

Income-Qualified Voucher: Income-qualified applicants will need to provide proof of income or proof of participation in an income-qualified program. To qualify for the income-qualified voucher, your household income needs to be below 80% of area median family income for Boulder County as defined by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).

Current (2023) income limits are shown below:

Find more information on the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Income Limits Summary webpage.

There are two rounds of e-bike vouchers in 2023.

The first round was for 200 vouchers, evenly split between the four voucher types. The purpose of this was to gauge interest in the different incentive types and adjust, as needed, for the second release.

Because income-qualified applicants will receive a larger voucher amount, 79% of funding from the first release will go to income-qualified vouchers and 21% to standard income vouchers.

The second round is adjusted based on what we learned during round one to better meet the demand for different voucher types. For the second round, we will distribute vouchers based on the proportional demand for each voucher type. At least 50% of total vouchers will continue to be dedicated to income-qualified recipients. We will issue vouchers until voucher funds are spent.

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

• 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.

To qualify for the income-qualified voucher, your household income needs to be below 80% of area median family income for Boulder County as defined by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).

Current (2023) income limits are shown below:

Find more information on the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Income Limits Summary webpage.

If you register for an income-qualified voucher and are randomly selected to receive one, you will need to upload related documentation dated within one year of application. Once your application is verified, you will receive your voucher.

Acceptable documents to provide proof of income include:

• First page of Federal 1040 Document (please make sure to blackout any sensitive/private information such as Social Security Numbers, etc.)
• Aid to the Needy and Disabled (AND)
• Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI)
• Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
• Your Form SSA-1099
• Old Age Pension (OAP)
• Xcel Energy’s Income Qualified DSM Programs
• Xcel Energy’s Income Qualified Community Solar Gardens program
• Energy Outreach Colorado’s Colorado Affordable Residential Energy Program (CARE)
• Colorado Low-income Energy Assistance Program (LEAP)
• Boulder Housing Partners Qualifying lease - showing all family in the household
• Boulder County Public Assistance
• Emergency Family Assistance Association (EFAA) assistance
• School Free/reduced lunch programs
• Boulder Parks & Recreation Financial Aid
• PlayPASS program

*All documents must be dated within one year of application.

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.

You will be notified the day after the registration period closes via the email you submitted with your application. The city will contact registrants for the second round by Sept. 14 at 5 p.m. Please check your spam folder if you do not see this email.

No. A limited number of vouchers are randomly distributed during each round.

The city is randomly selecting applicants in an effort to make the incentives more equitable. The two-week registration period provides applicants time to register on their own schedule and receive application support if needed.

Vouchers can be used in-person at participating bike shops in Boulder County. E-bikes cannot be purchased online.

No, e-bikes must be purchased from local bike shops.

Doing so provides voucher recipients with a greater choice of e-bikes while supporting the local economy.

Income-qualified registrants can opt in to receive an additional $200 starter kit voucher. It 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.

To help you understand what bike is best for your needs, our partners at Community Cycles have published an E-bike Guide for Buyers.

In summer 2023, the city is offering incentives to expand access to e-bikes, encourage adoption and to study the role e-bikes play in advancing Boulder's climate and transportation goals.

All registrants are asked to participate in questionnaires to help the city understand how the incentives have impacted travel habits. Data from the questionnaires, including e-bike usage, will be collected in the coming months.

City staff will review learnings from the two rounds of e-bike vouchers to better understand the impact of e-bike incentives on the city's climate and transportation goals. Results will be shared in 2024.

No. The State of Colorado’s Community Access to Electric Bicycles Rebate Program is offering a limited number of e-bike rebates available to low- and moderate-income Coloradans. The first application opens in August 2023.

Residents of Boulder will be eligible to apply for the Statewide e-bike rebate program; however, they may not combine e-bike incentives/rebates from the State and the City of Boulder on a single e-bike purchase.

To learn more about the statewide program, visit the Colorado Energy Office E-bike Rebate webpage.

Sign up for the city’s Climate Initiatives and Transportation and Mobility e-newsletters for updates and other relevant news.

For e-bike application alerts, sign up for the E-bike Alerts Email List.