Frequently Asked Questions

1. Who is eligible for this program?

To be eligible for this program, you must be a resident of the City of Boston and meet at least one of the following requirements:

You are a senior (age 60+),
You are an adult with a permanent disability (age 18+),
You have a household income at or below 40% of AMI

2. Where can I learn more about the latest updates and apply to the program?

The information about vouchers and upcoming application dates is available at boston.gov/ebikes. The webpage is updated regularly and has the latest official, publicly available information. The application portal can be accessed via the Boston E-Bikes Incentive Program page: boston.gov/ebikes.

3. What voucher types and amounts are available?

There are three types of vouchers available for e-bikes through this program:

Vouchers for standard e-bikes;
Vouchers for cargo e-bikes;
Vouchers for adaptive e-bikes and powered handcycle wheelchair attachments.

In Year 1, the available vouchers range from $800 to $2400 depending on the e-bike type and applicant’s income. See this chart below explaining anticipated voucher amounts in Year 1 based on type of bike and eligibility.

Standard Application

Application Type	Standard E-Bike	Cargo E-Bike
Senior (60+)	$800	$1,100
Income eligible Senior (60+)	$1,200	$1,500
Adult with Permanent Disability	$800	$1,100
Income-eligible Adult with Permanent Disability	$1,200	$1,500
Income-eligible Applicant (18+)	$1,200	$1,500

Rolling Application

Application Type

Adaptive E-Bike or Powered Handcycle Wheelchair Attachment

Adult with Permanent Disability

$2,000

Income-eligible Adult with Permanent Disability

$2,400

4. What is the difference between the standard application and the rolling application?

The standard application is available to all eligible groups who are looking for standard e-bikes or cargo e-bikes. First, residents apply to the program during pre-application dates. If they are selected by lottery, they are invited to submit supporting documentation. After the program administrator reviews documentation and confirms eligibility, the resident will receive a voucher.

The rolling application is available to adults with permanent disabilities who are looking for a powered handcycle, electric wheelchair attachment, or an adaptive e-bike modified to the individual’s needs. For rolling applications, residents submit applications and supporting documentation all at once. After the program administrator reviews documentation and confirms eligibility, residents will be invited to attend a bike fitting session. The voucher will be issued after the bike fitting session is completed.

5. What is an adaptive bike and who is eligible?

To qualify for an adaptive e-bike, the applicant must have a disabling condition that significantly impairs their ability to ride a standard e-bike. Examples of such conditions include a person who uses a wheelchair, walker or crutches; relies on oxygen; has conditions impacting their ability to balance while standing, walking, or riding a bike; or in some other way is unable to use and enjoy a standard or cargo e-bike. After completing the rolling application, eligible applicants will be required to attend one of the bike fitting sessions with experts to get an appropriately modified adaptive e-bike. Following the fitting session, the applicant will receive the voucher.

6. Should I try to rush to submit my application as soon as it becomes available?

No. Vouchers will be awarded by lottery, not first come, first served. You can submit your pre-application anytime between August 12 and August 24, 2024. You will have a 7 period to complete your application, if you are selected for the voucher.

7. What happens if I am selected for the voucher? How many days do I have to upload supporting documentation?

Applicants who are selected for a voucher will be notified by email. From the time of notification that you were selected for the voucher, you will have 7 days to complete your application. This will require answering additional questions and uploading valid proof of identity, and proof of address. Additional supporting documentation will also be required for adults with disabilities and income-eligible applicants.

8. What documentation will be required?

All applicants, who are selected for a voucher, will need to submit Government-issued ID and Proof of Address.

Government-issued ID
Each applicant must submit a photo or a scan of one of the following documents:

U.S. or internationally issued passport
Valid U.S. Permanent Resident Card
Valid Driver’s license or State ID

Proof of address (must be City of Boston resident)
Valid documentation must be dated within one year of the application. Each applicant must submit a copy of one of the following documents:

Computer-generated bill (utility, credit card, doctor, hospital, etc.)
Printed bank statement
Pre-printed pay stub (*from a period within the last 3 months)
First-class mail (from a government agency or court)
Current homeowners, renter's, or motor vehicle insurance policy
Mortgage, lease, or rental contract
Transcript or report card from an accredited school
Motor vehicle registration
Military Service Records (DD Form 214)
Letter of Stay or letter confirming client status from an established homeless shelter or homeless services agency

Additional documentation will be required for adults with permanent disabilities. These applicants will need to submit a copy of one of the following documents:

Medical form from a health professional - please use this template.
MBTA TAP Card
Disabled Parking Permanent Placard / Plate

Additional documentation will be required for those who apply as income-qualified residents. Income-eligible applicants will need to submit one of the following documents:

SSI/SSDI Benefit Verification Letter
2023 Medicaid/MassHealth Benefit Letter
WIC card or letter from the WIC office
1040 information for 2023 tax year (page 1 only)

9. How many days will it take to verify the documentation I submitted?

The Program administrator will review the documents within 10 business days.

10. How much time will I have to use the voucher?

Residents who received a voucher through standard application will have 90 days to redeem it. Residents who receive vouchers through a rolling application will have 120 days to use their voucher. This applies to both E-Bike Vouchers and Safety Equipment Vouchers

11. What should I do if I selected a wrong voucher when completing the application?

The type of the e-bike that you request in your application must match the type of the e-bike that you will eventually purchase. For example, if you selected a cargo e-bike voucher when completing the application, you cannot use your voucher to purchase a standard e-bike. Please consider carefully what type of e-bike is most appropriate for you before you complete your application. We have provided some information for you to be able to make an informed decision about what type of e-bike you're interested in as you complete your application. boston.gov/ebikes

12. What is a Safety Equipment Voucher?

All applicants who receive an e-bike voucher will also receive a $150 safety equipment voucher. This can be used toward the purchase of the following safety equipment: helmets, locks, air pump, lights, high-visibility gear (reflective and/or high visibility clothing, reflective leg bands, reflective or high visibility flag), bell, bike mirror, cellphone holder, water bottle holder, a rack or basket that can be mounted on the e-bike purchased through the program, bike seat for a child that can be safely attached to the e-bike purchased through the program, and a car bike rack that can carry the e-bike purchased through the program. The safety equipment voucher cannot be applied to taxes, transportation costs, e-bikes, or other in-store expenses.

The safety equipment voucher is unique and can only be used once. That means you have to buy all safety equipment you intend to purchase using the voucher in the same transaction and at the same shop.

13. What is the difference between an E-Bike Voucher and a Safety Equipment Voucher?

An E-Bike Voucher can only be applied toward the cost of an eligible e-bike or powered handcycle wheelchair attachment. It cannot be applied to taxes, transportation costs, safety equipment, or other in-store expenses.

A Safety Equipment Voucher can only be applied to the cost of approved categories of safety equipment intended for use with bicycles. The approved categories of safety equipment include: helmets, locks, bicycle lights, high visibility gear, bells, bicycle mirrors, bicycle seat for a child that can be safely attached to the e-bike purchased through the Program, and car bike rack to carry e-bike purchased through the Program. The Safety Equipment Voucher cannot be applied to taxes, transportation costs, E-Bikes, or other in-store expenses.

You can redeem both vouchers at the same shop, but you do not need to. They also do not need to be redeemed at the same time. You can redeem an E-Bike Voucher at one shop and redeem a Safety Equipment Voucher at another shop.

If the price of the E-Bike or Safety Equipment exceeds the value of the respective Voucher, the Applicant is responsible for paying the remaining costs.

At the point of sale, participating bike retailers will confirm the Applicant's ID and that their unique voucher is valid and has not been used in the past

14. Where can I redeem my voucher?

You can redeem your voucher at one of the participating bike retailers. Participating bike retailers have been approved and trained to redeem the vouchers. When redeeming your voucher at a participating retailer, you must show a valid government-issued ID, so that the retailer can verify that you received a voucher.

15. Where can I find out who the participating bike retailers are?

The directory and a map view of participating bike retailers is available on boston.gov/ebikes

16. Can you use the voucher retroactively, on a purchase you made before receiving the voucher? Can a voucher be used retroactively?

No. Vouchers may only be applied to new sales that occur on or after the date that the voucher was issued. Any e-bike or safety equipment purchased prior to a participant’s award of a voucher is not eligible for a refund retroactive application.

17. What happens if I am not selected for a voucher?

Applicants who are not selected for the voucher through a lottery are put on the waitlist. We will notify you by email if you are put on the waitlist. If an opportunity to receive a voucher opens up, we will email you with instructions.

18. Does my voucher expire?

After receiving the e-bike voucher and safety equipment vouchers by email, you will have 90 days to redeem them at a participating retailer. The e-bike voucher and safety equipment voucher do not need to be used at the same time or at the same shop. However, each voucher has a unique code, and each can only be used once. This means that you cannot split a safety equipment voucher across multiple days of purchase or across multiple retailers.

19. What if the e-bike or safety equipment I want to purchase costs less than the voucher amount?

If the retail price of an e-bike is less than the value of the e-bike voucher, the unused funds will be returned to the program to issue vouchers for other applicants. Remaining amounts on the e-bike voucher cannot be issued as cash or a gift card. Unused funds from an e-bike voucher cannot be used toward any other purchase, including safety equipment.

If the retail price of safety equipment is less than the value of the safety equipment voucher, the unused funds will be returned to the program to issue vouchers for other applicants. Remaining amounts on the safety equipment voucher cannot be issued as a cash or a gift card. Unused funds from a safety equipment voucher cannot be used for any other purchase, including for an e-bike.

20. What if I want to return or exchange the e-bike purchased through the program?

First, please refer to the e-bike/bike return and exchange policy of the participating bike shop where you redeemed the voucher to ensure you are still within the allowable time period to make a return.

If you meet the requirements of the retailer’s return or exchange policy, you can proceed. Please notify our customer service team at ebikes.boston@aptim.com. If you would like to purchase a different e-bike, we will reissue a new voucher for you to use. However, if you are not interested in purchasing a different e-bike with a program voucher, we will release the voucher to someone on the waitlist or use the funds for the next round. We do not issue cash back or credit for e-bikes that have been returned.

21. What if I want to return one or more items I purchased through the program using a Safety Equipment Voucher?

Return policy for item/s purchased via safety equipment can be returned for the store credit only, where you redeemed your Safety Equipment Voucher.

22. What will be included in the first 90 days of the free bike check?

Voucher recipients will receive free labor for 90 days for any of the following, when they purchase an e-bike through an authorized retailer using their voucher. Labor is limited to the work done on the e-bike they purchased with the voucher and limited to the shop where they purchased the e-bike. The cost of any parts associated with any repairs is NOT included. The client will be responsible to cover the costs of any parts.

Derailleur adjustment
Putting air in the tires, and flat repairs - inner tube
Wheel truing
Lubing chain
Headset adjustments
Brake adjustment & break bleed

23. How will the City of Boston evaluate the impact of this program?

The City of Boston and our evaluation consultant will assess the impact of this program. Approved applicants will complete survey questions as part of their final application submission. This data will be used in aggregate and no personal identifiable information will be released to the public without a participant’s explicit consent.

All applicants who receive a voucher will be invited to participate in optional follow-up surveys. During the completion of the application, applicants can indicate if they would like to opt-in to participate in qualitative research for the program. If an Applicant opts-in, they may be contacted by a staff member from the Evaluation Consultant's team. The qualitative research may include optional participation in interviews, focus groups, and experiential activities.

24. Who should I reach out to if I have a question about the focus groups or other parts of the evaluation research?

Please reach out to ebikes@boston.gov.

25. I am new to or returning to riding a bike and I am nervous about riding, what resources are available to me?

The City of Boston has a webpage dedicated for adults who never learned to ride or those looking to pick up some new bike skills called Learn-to-Bike for Adults.

You can also download or print this Safe Riding tip sheet.

26. How do I maintain my e-bike?

Here you can find our E-Bike Maintenance and Upkeep tip sheet that provides some basic guidance on maintaining your e-bike.

27. I am concerned about the batteries on e-bikes.

Here you can find a E-Bike Battery Safety tip sheet that provides some useful information. Please read the owner's manual for your e-bike to ensure you are using your particular battery per the manufacturer's instructions.

28. I am a e-bike retailer and have questions about the rebate redemption process.

You can use this tip sheet on How to Redeem E-Bike Incentives to help guide you through the voucher redemption process. You may find it useful to print this document and keep it near your register.