Rent-to-Own Program Gives San Diegans Access to E-Bikes

A rent-to-own program for e-bikes makes it possible for San Diego residents to access e-bikes that might otherwise have been out of reach. Emily Nonko describes the program in Next City, writing that “Low-income participants access e-bikes at no initial cost, while agreeing to ride an average of five miles a day, track and share rides for a study, and secure their own bike insurance. If the participants successfully complete the program after two years, they own the bike.” Participants who do not meet all requirements can still purchase the bike at a prorated cost.

The program, called Pedal Ahead, began in 2020 and has distributed more than 400 bicycles across the county. The San Diego program will serve as a model for an expanded statewide program called the Electric Bicycle Incentive Project, sponsored through a $10 million allocation from the California Air Resources Board (CARB). According to the article, “A portion of the $10 million will be dedicated to outreach, education and operations, with Pedal Ahead hiring representatives in other parts of the state for operation management, community engagement and more.”

Nonko adds that safe bike infrastructure is an integral part of encouraging a shift to multimodal transportation, but that e-bikes can help more people feel comfortable getting on two wheels.