If you’ve noticed more e-bikes around your neighborhood lately, you’re not imagining things. In 2022 alone, over one million e-bikes were sold in the United States—a 269% increase from 2019 (Vehicle Technologies Office, 2023). This surge isn’t just a passing trend; e-bikes are outpacing the growth of conventional bicycles and even surpassing the rise of electric vehicles (Boudway, 2022).
As e-bikes become a more mainstream mode of transportation, the implications for municipalities, counties, and states are significant. From bicycle infrastructure to motor vehicle traffic safety policies, the rapid adoption of e-bikes is challenging traditional transportation models. But what does this shift mean for New Jersey? How will local infrastructure, regulations, and mobility planning adapt to meet the needs of a growing e-bike user base?
To better understand the impact of this trend, we’re exploring e-bike incentive programs, and the benefits and challenges associated with widespread e-bike adoption.
E-Bike Incentive Programs
An e-bike incentive program is a scalable initiative designed to encourage the adoption of electric bicycles, which provide economic, health, and environmental benefits. E-bikes are particularly important for low-income individuals, those with disabilities, those without access to a driver’s license or in carless households, and residents in transit deserts.
New Legislation
As part of efforts to combat climate change and promote low-carbon transportation, New Jersey is advancing programs to reduce its carbon footprint, including the proposed NJ Bill A1487 for an e-bike rebate program through the Board of Public Utilities. As of August 2024, according to Portland University’s E-bike Incentive Programs Tracker, some 70 locations in the U.S. have active e-bike incentive programs across 22 states and the District of Columbia. Just seven states—Colorado, Connecticut, Hawaii, Minnesota, Rhode Island, Utah, and Vermont—had active statewide e-bike incentive programs as of August 2024. E-bike incentive programs take different forms, including:
- Partial purchase subsidies (flat rate or with cap)
- Ride-to-own scheme
- Lending Library
- Voucher with vehicle trade-in
- Free e-bike
E-bike Incentive Benefits
One underlying benefit behind these programs is to provide monetary incentives to lower the cost of e-bike usage for everyday travel, including support for employment. For example, a commuter might spend an hour traveling to work using unreliable public transportation, including time spent walking and waiting. An e-bike could cut that commute down to just 15 minutes, but the higher cost of a reliable e-bike—around $2,600 on average—makes it difficult for many lower-income individuals to afford one.
E-bike Incentive Pilot in Bridgeton, NJ
Rutgers University Voorhees Transportation Center, in partnership with Gateway Community Action Partnership and Mojo Bikes in Vineland, piloted a successful e-bike rebate program in Bridgeton, NJ in 2023. The program enabled 11 participants to make e-bikes their primary mode of transportation. The program provided a 90% subsidy on e-bikes, with helmets, lights, bells, locks, and yellow vests included in the price. The program was met with enthusiasm from the community and garnered significant interest. To date, this is the only e-bike incentive program in New Jersey.
Safer Streets
Another concern is safety education—not just for e-bike riders, but also for motor vehicle drivers who share the road with them. Clear rules, awareness campaigns, and training can help reduce conflicts and improve safety. But education alone isn’t enough; it must be reinforced with safer infrastructure, including protected bike lanes, improved intersections, and traffic-calming measures that make streets safer for everyone. Proactive solutions will be key to making e-bikes a safe and sustainable part of our transportation future.
Balancing Growth with Safety and Regulation
At the same time, concerns over e-bike speeds, delivery worker safety, and battery fire risks have led some municipalities and schools to impose tighter regulations or even bans. As e-bike ridership continues to grow, New Jersey faces a critical moment: how can we embrace this shift while ensuring safety, accessibility, and equity for all road users? Proactive solutions will be key to making e-bikes a safe and sustainable part of our transportation future.
References:
Vehicle Technologies Office. 2023. Electrification. https://www.energy.gov/sites/default/files/2024-11/VTO_2023_APR_ELECTRIFICATION%20REPORT_compliant_.pdf
Boudway, I. 2022. After Natural Disasters, Electric Vehicles Come to the Rescue. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2022-11-07/how-electric-cars-can-provide-backup-power-in-emergencies
Portland State University. 2024. E-Bike Incentive Programs of North America Tracker. https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1C-sYcwLrQFsr8r2A6RiAP2RwGsBNwr1BKOF_HJvCsVU/edit?gid=0#gid=0