The county of Marin just outlawed e-bikes. They did it because they are not safe for the riders or pedestrians. At the same time the State is giving away vouchers to help people buy the unsafe vehicles. Your tax dollars are literally going to help cause victims, injuries and unsafe streets.
“Nearly 100,000 Californians were left in the dark while trying to secure free e-bikes in December, leading the California Air Resources Board (CARB) to overhaul its online application system for a smoother second round.
CARB’s e-bike incentive program helps low-income Californians purchase e-bikes by offering vouchers in a two-tier system based on income. People earning a gross annual household income less than 300% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL) would be eligible for a $1,750 voucher.
An additional $250 is available for households earning at or below 225% of the FPL.
Why should any tax dollars be used to buy an e-bike for anybody, under any circumstances. In the midst of a deficit in the tens of billions, the real deficit, who waste money on something that is unsafe for the people, bike riders or pedestrians. Now you know why California is in a DOOM LOOP.
California overhauls E-Bike voucher program after system leaves almost 100,000 applicants waiting
CARB revamps its e-bike voucher system to include random selection after Californians competed for 1,500 vouchers.
Author: Jackson Ellison, ABC10, 4/22/25 https://www.abc10.com/article/news/local/california/california-overhauls-e-bike-voucher-program/103-fa0c7d88-da9b-4f6e-b013-7de3524a3f7e
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Nearly 100,000 Californians were left in the dark while trying to secure free e-bikes in December, leading the California Air Resources Board (CARB) to overhaul its online application system for a smoother second round.
CARB’s e-bike incentive program helps low-income Californians purchase e-bikes by offering vouchers in a two-tier system based on income. People earning a gross annual household income less than 300% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL) would be eligible for a $1,750 voucher.
An additional $250 is available for households earning at or below 225% of the FPL.
The first round of applications opened on December 18 and was accepted on a first-come, first-served basis. People’s place in line was based on when they signed on.
According to the California Bicycle Coalition (CalBike), those 100,000 people were competing for one of the 1,500 available vouchers.
“There were a lot of folks who were not able to get vouchers at that time, unfortunately,” said Kendra Ramsey, executive director of CalBike, at an application process presentation.
CARB is eliminating that system in the second round of distribution and will be using randomizing software to determine people’s place in line this time around. The agency said it will also let people know their place in line, so they can decide whether to wait.
A thousand vouchers will be available in the second round of distribution. To access the vouchers, people will need to enter the waiting room between 5:00 and 6:00 p.m. on April 29.
The room will stay open until the 1,000 applications are submitted.
Ramsey is advising that, if people are given a place in line of 2,000 or below, they should stay in the queue until it closes.
“Personally, if I got number 50,000 in line, I might not wait in line…because the likelihood you’re going to be able to fill out an application is very, very low,” Ramsey said.
According to CalBike, the most common issue slowing the process was people who did not meet the program’s income requirements, still attempting to apply. This added to the administrative costs, meaning there could be less money for vouchers in the future, as the program will run until all the roughly $31 million in funds are used.
Once their application is approved, they will receive the voucher. However, a voucher cannot be used to reimburse purchases. All purchases must also be made through participating retail shops. The program’s locator tool can help people find a shop.
Vouchers must be used within 45 days, but people can also request a 45-day extension.
Vouchers can be used to purchase class 1, 2 and 3 e-bikes. All three classes are bikes with pedals but have different top speeds.
People can also use the vouchers to buy bicycle accessories, such as helmets, but they must be purchased at the same time as the bikes.
Participants must own the bikes for at least one year. If they get rid of the bike, they have to repay a portion of the funds, unless the bike was stolen, had major mechanical issues or was damaged in a car accident.
