Let’s make e-bikes more affordable for San Franciscans!
Today we joined Board President Peskin, Supervisor Preston, Supervisor Melgar, Luke Bornheimer, Peter Darche and other safe street advocates at a press conference on the City Hall steps to announce the introduction of an ordinance that will fund and create a citywide e-bike incentive program.
The ordinance was introduced today and will move forward to the Board of Supervisors Land Use and Transportation committee next week, where we will be organizing people to turn out to give public comments.
E-bikes can transform how people get around, especially in a hilly city like San Francisco. However, we know the cost of purchasing a safety-certified e-bike can be burdensome, especially for people on limited income. The introduction of an e-bike incentive program would drastically reduce the cost of owning an e-bike and make it possible for more people to get on e-bikes. This would create so many net positives for our city:
- Reducing barriers to access: E-bikes make cycling accessible to a broader range of people, including those who may find acoustic biking challenging due. Expanding access to e-bikes will foster a stronger sense of community and encourage more residents to consider biking as a preferred mode of transportation.
- Promoting sustainable transportation: E-bikes offer an eco-friendly alternative to traditional vehicles. More people on E-bikes means lower green-house emissions, improving air quality and gets us closer to our sustainable transportation and climate goals.
- Reducing trraffic congestion: More people on bikes means less people in cars. Encouraging their use can help alleviate road congestion, making commutes faster and more efficient for everyone.
- Supporting local economy: When you’re on a bicycle, you see your neighborhood through a slower personal lens than when you’re in a moving vehicle. This perspective encourages people to eat and shop locally, which boosts the local economy and strengthens our sense of community.
- Building bike-safe infrastructure: Pairing the E-bike incentive program with the passing of a visionary Biking and Rolling Plan early next year to create a citywide connected network of car-free and people-prioritized streets will integrate e-bikes with existing sustainable transportation options, which creates a seamless, efficient system that benefits everyone.
Expanding people’s access to e-bikes is about more than just mode-shifting; this is a step towards a greener, healthier, and more connected San Francisco.
The SF Bicycle Coalition fully supports the creation of an e-bike incentive program and will be organizing in support of the ordinance next week at the Board of Supervisors Land Use and Transportation committee. Sign up below to receive updates and talking points on the hearing below.