Salt Lake City will not move forward with its popular e-bike voucher program in the upcoming Fiscal Year 2026, as Mayor Erin Mendenhall’s proposed budget excludes funding for this initiative.
The e-bike voucher program had been a part of the city’s Clean Air SLC initiative, aimed at enhancing air quality by reducing emissions.
Despite its benefits, Mendenhall explained that the program’s absence from the budget is due to a flat financial outlook this year.
However, she expressed optimism about potentially reviving the program in future budgets.
The e-bike voucher program allowed residents of varying income levels to receive financial support for purchasing new e-bikes.
Under the program, the voucher amount varied based on income and the specific type of e-bike being purchased.
Last summer, Salt Lake City received an impressive 2,225 applications for these vouchers, only to award 277 through a lottery system, according to Catherine Wyffels, who manages air quality and environmental programs in the city’s Sustainability Department.
Notably, nearly half of the awarded vouchers, 46%, were distributed to low-income applicants defined as those earning 60% of the Area Median Income (AMI) or less.
Moderate income earners, classified as those with incomes between 60%-80% AMI, received 29% of the vouchers, while standard income earners, with AMIs above 80%, accounted for the remaining 25%.
The level of assistance provided varied based on income: standard income earners could receive up to $300 for a commuter e-bike and $600 for a cargo e-bike, while moderate income earners were eligible for $500 and $800, respectively.
For low-income earners, the vouchers offered a significant boost, allowing up to $1,000 for a commuter bike and $1,300 for a cargo bike.
The city also aimed to foster local business by partnering with local bike shops, ensuring participants had access to support before and after their e-bike purchase.
However, it was reported that just 60% of voucher recipients actually redeemed their vouchers, a critical gap that prompted a follow-up round of the program.
To address this issue, the city allocated approximately $50,000 for a second round of vouchers and specifically invited low-income applicants to reapply.
Of the 719 low-income invitees, 412 expressed interest, and ultimately, 56 were chosen to receive vouchers, with 47 of those successfully redeeming them.
In total, the city spent $203,500 on these vouchers, slightly surpassing the initial budget of $200,000 allocated for the program.
Reflecting on the program’s results, Wyffels acknowledged some lessons learned, especially regarding pricing and time constraints for redemption.
Feedback from surveys revealed that some individuals who received vouchers still found new e-bikes financially out of reach.
Additionally, the 60-day window to use the vouchers proved challenging for many recipients.
Despite the complexities that emerged during the program’s execution, Wyffels emphasized the unmistakable interest among Salt Lake residents in transitioning from cars to e-bikes.
As the city continues to enhance its roadways and expand bike lanes, there is ample indication that e-bikes could serve as a viable primary transportation option for the community.
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