Survey says almost 50% of Americans would switch to an e-bike with incentive

E-bike can help transform cities, help mitigate the impact of the climate crisis, and generally do a lot of good things, so, why wouldn’t governments want to incentive their adoption through things like the E-Bike Act?

U.S. lawmakers have recently reintroduced the Electric Bicycle Incentive Kickstart for the Environment (E-BIKE) Act, proposing a tax credit that would cover 30% of the cost of a new electric bike, with a maximum credit of $1,500. To gauge the potential impact of this legislation, a survey from an e-bike industry group was conducted among 1,000 residents in major U.S. cities to gather their thoughts on e-bikes and the proposed tax credit bill.

Resident Reactions to the New Bill

The E-BIKE Act has garnered significant interest and support, with 70% of major city residents expressing their backing for the e-bike tax credit. Notably, 81% believe the bill would incentivize more people to switch to e-bikes, even though only 20% were aware of the newest version of the legislation. Cities with the highest support for the e-bike tax credit included Washington, D.C., Los Angeles, CA, Atlanta, GA, Chicago, IL, and New York, NY.

For or Against an E-Bike Payday

Almost half of major city residents (49%) indicated they were extremely likely to switch to an e-bike if the E-BIKE Act passes. Supporters cited environmental benefits (71%), traffic congestion reduction (68%), and increased access to alternative transportation (63%) as primary reasons for backing the tax credit. Additionally, 60% recognized e-bike riding as excellent exercise for people of all ages and fitness levels.

While support for the tax credit is strong, some residents voiced concerns about public safety (29%) and increased government costs (23%). Interestingly, a considerable number of respondents (42%) felt the tax credit should be higher and would consider switching to an e-bike if the credit doubled to $3,000.

Solar e-bike charging station in Basalt, Colorado

Citywide Effects of the E-BIKE Act

Respondents highlighted e-bike affordability (69%), battery life and range (57%), and the cost and ease of maintenance (51%) as crucial factors when purchasing an e-bike. Increased e-bike usage could potentially lead to traffic congestion reduction (49%) and improved air quality (52%) in cities.

Moreover, 60% of cyclists surveyed revealed they would relocate to a city that supports e-bike tax incentives, demonstrating the significance of such policies in attracting talent and investment to communities.

The Future of City Transportation

E-bikes are increasingly becoming a popular mode of transportation, especially in major cities. The proposed e-bike tax credit bill could have a substantial impact on city life by reducing traffic congestion and improving air quality.

Beyond the E-Bike Act

But electric bike incentives don’t begin and end with this act. Other levels of government in the United States, Canada and around the world are recognizing the people leaving the cars at home and embracing e-bikes is a huge win on so many levels it’s worth incentivizing.

There is a great list of American e-bike incentives that Lectric Bikes offers on its site here.

And there is a list of Canadian e-bike incentives here.

If your region is not on the list, lobby your local government representative and tell them to get in the game or get left behind.