Atlanta council member pushes resolution to fund second round of e-bike rebates
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Summary
Council member Matt Westmoreland is leading Resolution 26 R 3 1 0 8 to allocate $960,000 to the Atlanta Regional Commission and $40,000 to Propel ATL to administer and promote a second round of the city's e-bike rebate pilot, which organizers say prioritized low-income residents and boosted local bike shop sales.
Councilmember Matt Westmoreland is leading a proposal, identified in program materials as Resolution 26 R 3 1 0 8, to fund a second round of Atlanta's e-bike rebate program by directing $960,000 to the Atlanta Regional Commission and $40,000 to Propel ATL to administer and promote the effort.
The measure follows an eBicycle Study Group created by the Atlanta City Council in December 2022 to research rebate options and make recommendations. City presenters said the pilot launched in early 2024 and was designed to make electric bicycles more affordable for residents, prioritizing households at or below 80% of area median income through an application-based rebate for purchases at participating local bike shops.
Program materials cited in the briefing reported that 579 rebates were redeemed in the pilot round and that 82% of those redemptions were by income-qualified applicants. The presentation also reported about $1,200,000 in bike and accessory sales at 12 participating local bike shops. Organizers noted strong interest in the program: the presenters said earlier application demand reached about 11,000 sign-ups in a prior round of outreach.
Under the proposed allocation, the Atlanta Regional Commission would set up the application website and process for Atlanta residents, and Propel ATL would handle outreach and promotion, according to the briefing. Organizers told listeners the program structure is intended to continue prioritizing underserved communities in the second round.
Speakers at the briefing cited research from the first installment indicating that people who received rebates drove less frequently, which presenters said would help reduce traffic congestion and greenhouse gas emissions. The session framed the program's goals as both expanding affordable transportation options and supporting local bicycle retailers.
The transcript does not record a council vote or final adoption of Resolution 26 R 3 1 0 8. Materials and presenters directed interested residents to citycouncil.atlantaga.gov for additional information about the legislation and future meetings.
