Nelson E-bike Financing Program and E-Bike Expo
The City of Nelson launched the E-bike Financing Program in the summer of 2020 and has since distributed over 120 loans to Nelson Homeowners. The program is designed to promote a healthy alternative to driving and decrease the climate impact of transportation in Nelson. The City was the first municipality to launch a commuter bicycle incentive program in the Province. Since then, similar programs have begun launching across BC.
Now, the City is getting ready to host its first E-Bike Expo aimed at increasing active transportation. The event will be an opportunity to have face-to-face conversations with residents who own and operate an E-bike. There will be a variety of different bikes on display, and participants will get the chance to hear about real-world experiences and learn about the future of transportation in Nelson.
“We’ve heard many residents say they want to purchase an E-Bike but aren’t sure where to start – our goal is to bring people together to learn from each other and make it easier for people to start cycling,” says Cecilia Jaques, Climate and Energy Advisor. “The idea for the event is to provide a space where residents can drop in and have an informal conversation with their neighbours about choosing an E-Bike.”
The E-Bike Expo will be free to attend and take place on Friday, June 24, from 3:00 – 7:00 pm at the Nelson Innovation Center, located in Railtown (next to the Visitors Centre). Residents interested should visit the City of Nelson’s Facebook Page for more information. If you love your e-bike and want to share your experience at the E-Bike Expo, please get in touch with Cecilia at cjaques@nelson.ca.
City Partnering with UBC’s REACT Lab
To better understand the impact of the E-Bike Financing Program on travel behaviour and greenhouse gas emissions, the City has partnered with UBC’s REACT (Research on Active Transportation) Lab. Over the next year, new participants in the E-Bike Financing program will have the opportunity to participate in a state-of-the-art independent study that will measure the long-term impact of purchasing an E-Bike. Participation in the study is optional and will not affect whether residents receive a loan. Survey data will be collected in three phases, and participants will be entered into prize draws for gift cards of up to $50.
“We are thrilled to partner with Nelson to study the impacts of E-Bike adoption and promotion,” says Dr. Alex Bigazzi, who will lead the study. “E-bikes present a great opportunity for climate mitigation with many co-benefits including decreased pollution and healthier lifestyles, but we currently have very little real-world data on E-Bike usage in Canada.”
As the City continues to implement the Nelson Next Climate Plan, this initiative will provide rigorous information on the effectiveness of the E-Bike Financing Program in helping achieve the City’s ambitious climate targets.
About the E-Bike Financing Program
The E-Bike Financing Program provides low-interest financing for Nelson homeowners who would like to purchase a commuter bike, including electric, non-electric bikes, and accessories. The loan is applied monthly on the homeowner’s Nelson Hydro electric bill and repaid over the loan term. The maximum loan amount is $8,000 per household, which can support the purchase of more than one bike. Participants can choose an amortization period of two or five years, with an interest rate of 3.5%. Learn more and apply at nelson.ca/ebike.