This summer, Poplar Grove resident Danny Parker applied for – and received – an e-bike voucher from Salt Lake City Sustainability’s e-bike incentive program.

“I found the e-bike incentive accidentally when I had by chance heard of the lawn mower rebate,” said Parker. “I had no immediate intention to apply until I saw a surprisingly affordable bike … that would pair with some of my current bike materials as well as make year-round riding feasible.”

Parker is one of 277 residents across Salt Lake City who were awarded a voucher to purchase an electronic bicycle, also called an e-bike. More than 2,000 people applied for the voucher over the summer.

The goal of the program was to ultimately decrease vehicle usage and promote cleaner air. The incentive program gave recipients a voucher ranging from $300 to $1,300 to use towards the purchase of an e-bike. The actual amount awarded depended on the bike type – e-commuter or e-cargo – and the income qualifications of the applicant.

Mike Christensen of Jordan Meadows also received a voucher. “Even though I enjoy riding UTA,” said Christensen, “having an e-bike gives me the same flexibility as having a car without all the downsides of having a car.” Christensen says the e-bike he purchased using the voucher is actually his second e-bike; he purchased the first one 2 years ago and has used it as his main mode of transportation ever since.

For Tony Shirley, getting an e-bike wasn’t financially possible without assistance from the voucher program. “I felt that I would have an opportunity to find a better bike with a better fit for me with the program’s assistance,” said Shirely, a resident of the Glendale neighborhood for more than 20 years.

Shirley says besides the ability to get around easier, having an e-bike has helped him build a community. “I feel it has positively changed my outlook on my weekly activities to include bike rides and staying healthy,” Shirley explained. “I have also joined an age 50+ riding group that meets every other week.”

Recipients of the vouchers were selected through a lottery system. Several bike shops and brands partnered with the city to participate in the program: Bingham Cyclery, Contender, Magnum, Rad Power Bikes, and Trek.

Reflecting on how the bike has improved his life in the past month or so, Parker says he’s used the e-bike much more than initially expected. “I’ve been riding to work almost every day as well as running errands quite often,” Parker says. “The bike adds a dynamic of feeling fit and active as well as being engaged with moving around the city.” Parker says that he’s used his car a few times since buying an e-bike, but he finds himself getting bored and irritated sitting in traffic. “I think the bike is really getting to me.”

Christensen encourages everyone to give an e-bike a try, or to even use a regular bike or public transportation. He says he’s frustrated by society’s dependence on automobiles, saying those who don’t bridge out to other modes of transportation are “missing out on a better way to live.”

Salt Lake City Sustainability says the team is grateful for the overwhelming amount of interest in the e-bike incentive program. While there are not any definitive plans to do another awarding of vouchers, the city says to stay tuned: “we will let you know when and if we are able to do future rounds.”