The City of San Francisco is making strides towards a greener future with its electric bike pilot program aimed at delivery workers. During a recent government meeting, Anna Sheruto, a clean transportation specialist from the San Francisco Environment Department, provided an update on the initiative, which seeks to transition delivery workers from cars to electric bikes.

Launched in June, the pilot program will eventually include 60 participants, split evenly between electric bikers and traditional drivers. The program is part of a broader strategy to create a 100% electric transportation system by 2040, as outlined in the city’s 2019 EV Ready Community Blueprint. The pilot is also a response to a 2021 climate action plan and a labor study indicating significant interest among delivery workers in switching to e-bikes.

Sheruto reported that the program has already seen strong interest, with 173 eligible applications received from various neighborhoods, particularly the Mission, Tenderloin, and Downtown areas. The first cohort of 15 bikers has begun training, which includes classroom sessions on bike safety and practical riding skills.

The pilot aims to collect data on various factors, including working conditions, income, safety, and emissions reductions, to demonstrate the benefits of e-bikes for food deliveries. Participants will own their bikes after the program, which runs for a year and is divided into three phases: ramp-up, data collection, and analysis.

Looking ahead, the program is set to expand, with potential new funding from the Department of Energy that could double the number of participants. Currently, there is a waitlist of approximately 100 interested delivery workers, highlighting the demand for such initiatives.

Commissioners expressed support for the program, emphasizing the need for improved biking infrastructure and addressing logistical challenges, such as secure bike parking. As the pilot progresses, the city anticipates valuable insights that could further enhance biking conditions and promote sustainable transportation options in San Francisco.