Skip to Content
Streetsblog California home
Streetsblog California home
Log In
Bicycling

CalBike Has Some Answers to Questions about State E-bike Incentives

Image: CalBike

Many questions remain to be answered about California's e-bike incentive program, including the main one that people seem to have: "Where can I sign up for one?" The answer to that is: nowhere, yet.

CalBike has been closely following developments in the program, which was created with a $10 million allocation in last year's budget - that's 2021. But the California Air Resources Board (CARB) has yet to finish working out the details of what will be offered, how it will be offered, and to whom.

Recent public workshops have shown strong support for any incentives to be limited to people who need them, be it through a needs-based assessment or some other way of determining need, but the details on how that might be done are not clear. While CARB has chosen an administrator to run the program, several months have passed without a signed contract. Also, CARB has not released any of the application materials requested by Streetsblog to help ascertain what the administrator's plan for the program will be.

What is known (and is at the top of CalBike's recently posted FAQ page):

    • The program will launch in 2023.
    • The voucher amount will likely be between $750 and $1,250 for a standard e-bike and $1,500 or more for a cargo or adaptive bike.
    • The pilot program will be limited to Californians living at or below 400 percent of the federal poverty level.
    • There are many local e-bike incentive programs, and CalBike has a list of them here.

The FAQ also has information on signing up to receive updates from both CalBike and CARB.

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from Streetsblog California

Giants, Padres Race Ahead of Other CA Teams on Bike/Transit Access

The Dodgers might be the defending champs, but in our view they have miles to go on bike and transit options to the stadium.

March 27, 2025

Thursday’s Headlines

California's baseball teams return to the field and make an appearance in our news roundup.

March 27, 2025

Eyes on the Street: Road Widening in Downtown L.A.

Zombie road widening - that would be illegal for California cities to require today - still plagues downtown L.A.

March 26, 2025

Call to Action: Urge SFMTA to Build Oak Street Protected Bike Lane Already

Fell, along the Panhandle, got a westbound parking-protected bike lane in 2020. Putting an eastbound protected lane on Oak is a no-brainer.

March 26, 2025
See all posts