One-third of e-bike buyers who got their cycles through the now-depleted Colorado rebate fund are replacing two to three car trips each week with the battery-powered two-wheelers, a new state survey shows.
All Coloradans can still get e-bike discounts at the cash register through a less-lucrative state tax credit of $450. The new state survey of more than 3,000 who redeemed the older, higher rebates shows e-bike adopters avoiding car commutes and errands wherever possible, but also facing ongoing barriers, such as weather challenges and unprotected bike lanes.
E-bike advocates looking to reduce pollution from cars and make Colorado cities more livable said the survey’s broad response shows state and local governments should continue the subsidies, and redouble road safety efforts.
“Colorado e-bike rebates are a cost-effective tool to cut emissions, reduce traffic and help households save money — sometimes even allowing them to downsize from two cars to one,” said Matt Frommer, transportation and land use policy manager with the nonprofit Southwest Energy Efficiency Project. “Plus, they’re just fun to ride. They’ve brought a whole new segment of Coloradans into biking, and we’ll need to invest more in their safety to keep the momentum going.”
“Financial incentives significantly increase access to e-bikes and make them a more attractive option for individuals who might not otherwise purchase one,” said Benedict Wright, education manager for Bicycle Colorado. Wright said the group applauds the survey’s efforts “to understand and quantify the personal and environmental impacts of e-bikes and e-bike incentives in our state,” and highlights the potential for further expanding e-bike adoption.
Colorado poured about $10 million into the first rebate program that launched in 2023, and 34,000 people applied, with about 8,000 making it through the application process. Of those 8,000 who bought bikes, nearly 3,100 answered the state survey.
The rebate program was income-qualified, meaning people at or below 80% of their area median income got $1,100 toward an e-bike. Those with 80% to 100% of AMI got $500. Both groups also qualified for an extra $300 for a cargo e-bike, which can carry kids, tools or groceries, and $100 for a helmet or lock. Those with disabilities needing an adaptive e-bike qualified for another $250. The e-bikes had to be purchased from one of the 100 stores qualified statewide.
Part of the rationale of the various e-bike programs, which continue in other forms with the state tax credit and various local voucher programs, was that the rechargeable battery bikes could replace short gasoline-vehicle trips on the Front Range and help solve violations of EPA ozone limits. In 2017, the state says, “nearly 60% of household motor vehicle trips were 6 miles or less, and 75% were 10 miles or less; for many persons, shorter trips may be completed by bicycle.”
About 71% of respondents bought a regular e-bike, with the rest buying the sturdier (and heavier) cargo bikes. A plurality of 1,180 respondents said their primary reason for getting a bike was for exercise, and another 890 said it would be for commuting. Just under 90% said they wouldn’t have bought their e-bike without the state rebate.
More than a third of respondents said they were taking two to three rides a week, with the next-largest group taking four to five trips a week. “This suggests that some users have made e-bikes a primary mode of
transportation,” the survey report said. It also noted, however, that 4% of buyers were not using their e-bikes at all.
One of the no-brainer results was that 87% of riders said the amount of their use was affected by weather. After weather concerns, the next most common barrier to using the bike more was reported to be lack of safe infrastructure for rides.
“As more people turn to e-bikes and other alternatives for getting around, it’s more important than ever to ensure that everyone can travel safely — no matter their mode of transportation,” Bicycle Colorado said. The nonprofit pointed to passage this year of House Bill 1197, which requires more safety measures and labeling of e-bikes from manufacturers and bike shops.
A state tax credit of $450 is still available for buyers, also taken off at the cash register at qualified shops. That credit, however, will be cut in half along with other clean energy tax credits on Jan. 1 as a result of state revenue projections not reaching set targets for 2025-26.