Four ways cities are getting more e-bikes on the road

Until a couple of years ago, e-bikes were not on my radar. To me, they were a distant European trend, and one that could never be replicated in the U.S. But times have changed. E-bikes are becoming ever more popular on America’s roads—and rightfully so. The future of our environment demands it. 

A recent study showed that more than half of all car trips in urban areas could easily be made by e-bike—and that if they were, the environmental benefits could be huge. E-bikes use a fraction of the energy of other types of vehicles (around 10% of the energy of a small electric car, for example) and emit none of the tailpipe pollution or greenhouse gas emissions. Ditching the car for an e-bike would save close to 1,300 pounds of carbon dioxide per person each year, and if 70% of the aforementioned study’s car users made the switch, greenhouse gas emissions from cars in the region would be slashed by 10%.       

While many Americans have gradually come around to the idea of e-bikes over recent years, many more remain hesitant to make the leap. Indeed, given that so few people (less than 0.5% of the country in 2023) currently even take a regular bike to work, it seems difficult to imagine how we might go about encouraging a nationwide embrace of e-bikes specifically. 

A few cities and states, however, are showing the way, working to remove the obstacles—real or perceived—that are preventing more people from making the switch. 

The Denver rebate program making e-bikes more affordable

As e-bikes’ high price tag can deter buyers (many popular models cost well over $1,000), rebates and other financial incentives enable more people to benefit from a faster bike ride and contribute to a cleaner climate. As of 2024, 15 states have a local or statewide e-bike subsidy program that can shave hundreds of dollars off the cost of an e-bike.  

This summer, Denver will issue its next round of e-bike rebate vouchers. Granted on a first-come, first-served basis, the vouchers are consistently snatched up in minutes—a testament to the city’s e-bike enthusiasm. These $450 income-qualified, point-of-sale rebates for Denver residents may be combined with the $450 statewide e-bike discount. That means a potential $900 off an e-bike at participating stores in Denver. A 2023 survey reported that almost 5,000 e-bikes sold in just nine months through the incentive program. What’s more, income-qualified residents used their e-bikes 50% more than non-qualified incentive users.   

Similar rebate programs have been implemented in Boston, Columbus, Tampa, and a host of other places in the U.S. A recent study sampled users purchasing an e-bike with the help of a rebate or other incentive, and found that 93% were new to e-bikes. The cyclists—widely satisfied with their e-bikes—also reported an average 35% cutback on car travel. Reducing the financial hurdles involved in obtaining e-bikes can lead more people to use this environmentally friendly mode of transportation. 

E-bike friendly roads in Portland, Oregon, easing safety concerns 

As more riders charge up their e-bikes and hit the road, cities must find creative ways to update their infrastructure in order to integrate e-bikes onto the streets. This is crucial to ensure an enjoyable and safe experience not only for e-bikers, but also the pedestrians and regular bikers around them.

A good example of e-bike-friendly infrastructure can be found in Portland, Oregon, where a series of neighborhood greenways are being positively received by cyclists. The greenways are streets redesigned to prioritize e-bikes and regular bikes over cars. Speed bumps and car traffic diversions reduce the speed and volume of vehicles, while protected intersections and improved “sharrow” markings encourage bike use. Portland has more than 100 miles of these streets, allowing bikers a safer ride around the city. 

E-bikes in particular benefit from the greenways, as, with fewer vehicles on the road, the e-bike can become the dominant mode of transportation. E-bikes are particularly valuable in hilly cities like Portland where the need to make steep climbs can deter people from riding manual bicycles. In hilly Southwest Portland—an area with a significant number of greenways (and more on the way)—11% of all riders are on e-bikes, a 2024 study reports. These greenways have proved popular with local cyclists, with some describing them as the urban equivalent of “back roads” riding.   

Vermont’s lending libraries smoothing the transition to e-bikes

Many people have never been on an e-bike, let alone would consider buying one. Cities across the country are working to change that, with a variety of lending and sharing initiatives that give riders access to e-bikes whenever they need them, without the hassle of any upkeep or storage.

In seven Vermont cities (Montpelier, Springfield, Middlebury, Rutland, Brattleboro, Upper Valley and Saint Albans), e-bike “lending libraries” allow people to borrow e-bikes for a week. This program is a positive first step for winning new e-bike converts, as people can treat the lending library as a test ride for a more long-term investment. 

In addition, local advocacy group VBike provides a wealth of resources to help Vermonters make the switch to e-bikes, such as free e-bike consultations with experts to help potential buyers wade through the myriad models on the market and the various rebates and incentives offered by the state.   

The share program building e-bike culture in Santa Barbara  

In 2021, the city of Santa Barbara launched its e-bike share program. With 250 e-bikes and 500 charging docks—all accessed through an app—Santa Barbara BCycle is convenient and easy to use. A variety of passes are available for purchase depending on the rider’s needs. Instead of spending more money and CO2 sitting in an Uber, people can grab an e-bike wherever and whenever is convenient for them.       

The share program has largely been a success—Santa Barbara recently reached 2 million miles traveled in the city with BCycle (not to mention the significant environmental benefits resulting from such a milestone). However, it is precisely this popularity which has led to challenges. As with any city experiencing an influx of e-bikes, there are growing pains as regulations and infrastructure work to keep up. In the case of Santa Barbara, public officials have proposed to reconfigure State Street with bike and pedestrian safety in mind.      

In order to normalize e-bikes, it is important to give people easy and affordable access to them. Increasing the availability of lending and sharing programs is a vital step toward building a culture in which the e-bike is just as much—if not more—a part of people’s everyday experience as its analog cousin. 

Even though e-bikes have become an increasingly familiar sight in towns and cities across the country over recent years, there’s still a long way to go, and more research is needed to support and expand states’ efforts to get e-bikes on the road. Such studies are already underway. For example, a collaboration between the University of Michigan and the University of Florida is currently researching how to best prepare infrastructure for increased e-bike use. Given the environmental benefits of e-bikes, maximizing their popularity and efficiency should be a priority for a cleaner future.