Thanks Colorado!

23 days ago by chicken to c/colorado

Colorado has an ebike rebate program for low income residents: https://energyoffice.colorado.gov/ebike-rebates https://drive.google.com/...

With the aim to increase access to e-bikes, Colorado passed SB22-193 in 2022, which established the “Community Access to Electric Bicycles” program to provide funding for an e-bike rebate program. The e-bike rebate program offered point-of-sale rebates to low- and moderate- income Colorado residents at bike shops around the State. The rebate program launched in August 2023 and over 34,000 people applied, with about 8,000 people redeeming a rebate and purchasing an e-bike.

Basically you apply sometime in a one week application window, and if you qualify and win a random drawing, you get $1k towards purchasing a new ebike through a participating store.

I applied, and won the rebate myself, and bought a low end (for what was available) ebike, I only spent $200 for this very nice one, it's great. Really grateful to the Colorado voters/taxpayers who thought I should have an ebike and bought me an ebike. Now I can drive my car even less, and I hate driving!

If any Lemmy users reading this are low income and live in Colorado, this is the next application window: Monday, October 19, 2026 - Monday, October 26, 2026 so think about putting it on your calendar, it's not a guarantee you get it but a pretty high chance so definitely worth the time to apply if you want one.

remotelove 5 points 23 days ago

I am all for this, but please keep the speed down if you are sharing paved paths with others: People can't hear them coming up from behind and don't know to stay clear.

Just like with electric cars, these things should have something audible required by law so they can be heard when approaching.

The number of times I have been buzzed by ebikes on trails around my house is getting insane and it's extremely dangerous.

The bikes aren't the problem: it's the kids that are too immature to use them safely. To mitigate the issue, some kind of control must be required. Personally, I don't give a shit how fast a person goes or how reckless they choose to bike, just don't involve me with that shit and give me the chance to step away.

Unfortunately, it's all too easy for lawmakers to do stupid shit and try and ban these bikes on public paths completely. That is a solution, sure. It's a bad one and is still unfair.

More often than not, all I see is poorly operated ebikes. It's just too easy to blame the tool and not the person, unfortunately.

/rant

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chicken 3 points 23 days ago

Will do, this thing isn't really made for going fast on trails anyway, as a Class 2 ebike it maxes out at 20mph powered, but I find myself slowing down to a little below the speed I would go on my unpowered mountain bike for bumpy terrain or blind corners, because of the way it handles and the lack of shocks.

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remotelove 2 points 22 days ago

Sorry though, I wasn't ranting at you specifically. I really do think this is an awesome thing for people to get a chance for supplemental transport.

I am just a bit salty from some recent interactions with idiots.

There have been multiple issues with bikers speeding up from behind me recently. That, and I was at a local highschool track the other day after hours just trying to get in one of my runs and was harassed by some other kids on dirt bikes that were also speeding on the paths. (Bonus! I could at least hear those.)

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burble 3 points 22 days ago

All it takes is the tiniest amount of common courtesy. Slow down a little and brrrring a bell or say "on your left". People suck.

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nullroot 2 points 22 days ago

Thank you for the share! Added to my calendar 😁

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