Atlanta residents looking for a new set of wheels might be in luck.
The Atlanta City Council allocated $1 million to an equity-focused e-bike rebate program on Jan. 5 that is aimed at increasing access to e-bikes for residents who might find the cost a barrier to purchasing.
75% of rebates are earmarked for residents who earn $54,000 per year or less — that’s 80% of the Atlanta region’s median household income.
They can receive a $1,500 rebate for a standard e-bike and $2,000 dollars for a cargo e-bike, whereas rebates for other residents are $500 for a standard e-bike and $1,000 for a cargo e-bike.
The program is a partnership among the City of Atlanta which provided funding, the Atlanta Regional Commission which will administer the program, and Propel ATL, an organization focused on safe streets that will conduct outreach and connect communities to the funding opportunity.
The rebates will be at the point of sale and must be used at a local Atlanta retailer.
“That’s the beauty of the instant rebate,” said Rebecca Serna, executive director of Propel ATL.
She said residents don’t have to pay the retail price of the e-bike at the store, which is a huge barrier to overcome. The rebate amount will be deducted from the total price of the bike, and the Atlanta Regional Commission will reimburse the local retailer.
This isn’t just good for local business. Foster said that maintenance is important down the line, and when folks buy e-bikes “direct to consumer” online, most local shops won’t put the e-bikes together or do maintenance on them in fear of voiding any warranties. He said the partners also want residents to feel comfortable going to their local shops for maintenance.
“An important thing to note is you may not see infrastructure in certain areas, but there’s definitely activity,” Foster said.
In areas like south and southwest Atlanta and the Westside, he said data…
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