Letter: Ebike Rebate bill in Maryland

Ebike rebates make a sustainable transportation option affordable.

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2023-HB1008-EbikeRebate-FAV

HB1008: Maryland Energy Administration - Electric Bicycle Rebate Program - Establishment
Economic Matters Committee
Washington Area Bicyclist Association – FAVORABLE

March 7, 2023
Chair Wilson and members of the Economic Matters Committee,

The Washington Area Bicyclist Association (WABA) is an advocacy organization with 1,300 Maryland members and many other Maryland supporters and partners. My name is Seth Grimes, WABA’s Maryland organizer, testifying on behalf of the organization.

WABA supports HB1008, which would establish the Electric Bicycle Rebate Program to provide rebates for qualified individuals and certain entities that purchase electric bicycles and require an annual appropriation for the program. Last year, via the Climate Solutions Now Act, the General Assembly allocated millions of dollars to electric vehicle tax credits. Now it's time to promote a much more cost-effective, equitable, and environmentally friendly step: HB1008’s e-bike rebates for low- and moderate-income households and for business and nonprofit activities.

We aim to boost mobility and transportation equity and environmentally sound transportation alternatives. HB1008 will further that goal, and it will prove highly cost-effective. E-bikes cost far less than EVs –generally, electric cars – and the rebate will cover a high proportion of the cost, making this form of transformative transportation accessible to a wide set of households that can’t afford an EV even with a tax credit. However a $500,000 yearly appropriation won’t go far.

Compare: California’s e-bike affordability program launched in July 2021 with $10 million in funding. Last November, the Colorado legislature appropriated $10 million for e-bike rebates through 2024 and is continuing $1 million annual funding in 2023 and 2024 for the Can Do Colorado pilot program, where cyclists ride free e-bikes.

Demand will eat up a $500,000 yearly appropriation very quickly. Denver received 2,600 applications within two weeks of launching an e-bike program a year ago. Within six months, 4,100 Denver residents redeemed vouchers worth more than $4.1 million. That was for one city just 25% larger than Baltimore alone. So we suggest adding two words in the proposed State Government article § 9–2016 (F), the words “at least” in the sentence “the governor shall include in the annual budget bill an appropriation of at least $500,000 for the program,” and please also consider a baseline appropriation higher than $500,000.

Now the Denver program does provide any resident a $400 discount for an e-bike via a retailer arrangement, and $500 for a cargo e-bike. Income-qualifying residents can apply for a $1,200 e-bike rebate or $1,700 for a cargo e-bike. The Denver program recognizes that e-bikes benefit everyone by expanding mobility without increasing traffic congestion or greenhouse gas emissions while also incorporating equity by providing high enabling income-qualified rebates. It’s the genre of program Maryland should implement. However a broad rebate is not on the table today, and the bill before the General Assembly, HB1008, is a good start.

The Washington Area Bicyclist Association urges a Favorable HB1008 committee report and House of Delegates floor vote.

Seth Grimes, Maryland organizer Washington Area Bicyclist Association seth.grimes@waba.org

More about Maryland Legislation

WABA develops and advocates for state legislation to make bicycling in Maryland safer and more accessible and for state funding to expand Maryland’s bicycle network, working directly with legislators and Maryland Dept. of Transportation (MDOT) leadership and as part of the Bike Maryland coalition. We also work on broader road-safety, transit, and environmental legislation and funding, typically as part of larger statewide coalitions. The annual Maryland legislative session runs from January to April, but our work developing legislation starts the preceding summer.

We’re thrilled that several bills we worked on or supported were enacted in 2024, directing an MDOT Vision Zero Coordinator and public review process; the Better Bus Service Act, allowing bus-lane enforcement cameras (with bikes allowed); authorizing stop-sign cameras near schools in Prince George's County; and the Sarah Debbink Langenkamp Memorial Act, addressing penalties for hitting a cyclist in a bike lane.

Our 2024 advocacy included unsuccessful efforts that we will likely pursue in future years. (It often takes years to pass a bill. ) These include a Great Maryland Trails Act, an E-bike Rebate and Voucher Program bill, and a bill addressing maintenance responsibility for sidewalks and bike paths along state roads. Another topic on our list for 2025 is contributory negligence, a prejudicial statute that says that if a crash victim is even only 1% at fault, then they are liable and may not recover (full) costs and damages from the party largely at fault.

More about Laws & Policy

WABA works with grassroots advocates at the local, county and state level to support laws and policies that make it easier and safer to walk, bike, and take transit. And we work to changes ones that make biking less safe, make it harder to build bike infrastructure, or that deprioritize the safety and convenience of people walking, biking, or taking transit.

In practice that means advocating for robust and transformative Vision Zero programs, enforceable Complete Streets policies, and funding for new infrastructure that supports biking, walking and transit.

Other regional legislative priorities include:

Reforming Contributory Negligence (passed in DC, in the works in Maryland and Virginia).
Getting rid of the Level of Service engineering standards in transportation decision-making.
Funding E-bike purchase rebates.

More about Advocacy

WABA fights for a region where biking, walking and transit are the best ways to get around.

We educate policymakers and organize grassroots advocates for to speak up for safer places to bike and walk; and for laws and policies that protect people who are walking and biking, reduce dangerous driving, and facilitate changes to the built environment.