How to Get an E-Bike Voucher

The Santa Monica’s E-bike Voucher Program is accepting applications!

The City of Santa Monica’s E-bike Voucher Program will award approximately 90 vouchers to qualified Santa Monica residents to cover the cost of an e-bike, and safety equipment like a helmet, lights, and/or a bike lock. Each voucher is worth up to $2,000 to be used at the time of purchase and will be awarded through a series of lotteries. To be eligible to receive a voucher, residents must meet defined income criteria. Vouchers will be redeemable at several participating Santa Monica shops.

It is important to note that Santa Monica’s E-bike Voucher Program is not a rebate program. Residents must apply and be awarded a voucher prior to purchasing their e-bike. No reimbursement for the purchase of an e-bike will be made prior to being awarded a voucher.

Increasing equity in access to e-bikes and their benefits is a key pillar of this program. Distinct from the City’s Electrify Santa Monica Rebate Program, the E-Bike Voucher program aims to serve low- and moderate-income households and waives any upfront costs that typically exclude such communities from taking advantage of rebate programs. If selected to receive an e-bike voucher, recipients will not need to pay any upfront costs to the bike shop or wait for reimbursement. The voucher will directly cover the cost of the e-bike and accompanying equipment (up to $2,000) at the time of sale.

Applications will remain open until all funds are exhausted. Due to limited funding, vouchers will be awarded through a lottery system, NOT first-come-first-served basis. All applicants, regardless of the date they apply, will be entered into a lottery to receive an e-bike voucher.

Current Lottery Dates: July 17th, August 14th, and September 10th

To learn more about the voucher process, see below.

If you have any questions or would like more information, please contact:

(310)-458-2201 ext. 2504

bikevoucher@santamonica.gov

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Determine Your Eligibility
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To be eligible for an e-bike voucher, applicants must be 18 years or older, a Santa Monica resident AND meet income defined criteria. Applicants can meet income qualifications through ONE of the following criteria:
- Enrollment in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP); or
- Enrollment in the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP); or
- Enrollment of a dependent in a Free or Reduced Lunch Program in Santa Monica; or
- Participation in utility discounted rate programs such as CARE, FERA or Medical Baseline discounted rate programs; or
- Live in a unit that is deed restricted affordable housing; or
- Live in a unit that is affordable housing provided by Community Corporation of Santa Monica; or
- Meet definition of low-income at 80% Area Median Income and complete a low income eligibility form
Low income eligibility forms are also available in Spanish.
*If you have any questions regarding the low-income eligibility form, please contact bikevoucher@santamonica.gov*
Submit Your Application
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Interested residents can fill out our online application here. Si prefiere completar la solicitud en español, haga clic aquí.
Paper applications in English and Spanish are also available. Please contact us if you prefer a paper copy or need any help filling out our application:
(310)-458-2201 ext. 2504
bikevoucher@santamonica.gov
There are no restrictions on the number of applications per household. However, please only fill out ONE application per qualified individual.
Congratulations! You Have Been Selected
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After submitting your application and supporting documents, you will be entered into the applicant pool for the voucher lottery. Voucher lotteries will be held on July 17th, August 14th, and September 10th.
If your application is not selected, it will be rolled over to the next lottery drawing until funds are exhausted. No need to reapply!
If you are selected, you will be sent an email confirming you have received a voucher. The email will include information on the required League for American Bicyclist 'Smart Cycling' online safety training and next steps to redeem your voucher.
You will be required to complete the safety training and initial participation survey prior to receiving your e-bike.
Vouchers must be redeemed within 90 days of award date.
Redeeming Your Voucher
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Vouchers will only be redeemable from participating Santa Monica bike shops. After choosing a participating bike shop, take your voucher code and personal ID to receive your e-bike. Bike safety training and initial survey must be completed in order to receive your e-bike.
Enjoy Your E-Bike!
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FAQ

What is an e-bike?

An electric bicycle, or e-bike, is a bicycle equipped with an electric motor to assist with pedaling. For more information regarding e-bikes and how to choose which is best for you, check out the GoSaMo E-bike Buyers Guide.

Where can vouchers be redeemed?

All participating vendors will be local Santa Monica bike shops. We are still working to finalize the list of authorized vendors that will be accepting e-bike vouchers. We will publish the list once the vendors are established.

Can I use my voucher to purchase an e-bike that costs more than $2,000?

Yes, but you would be required to pay out of pocket for any remaining costs above the $2,000 maximum voucher amount.

Are there any restrictions on the kind of bike I can purchase with my voucher?

Any e-bike purchased with a voucher MUST have:

Electrical components that are national lab certified (UL listed or NSF/ETL/CSA Certified);
Two or three wheels and fully operable pedals; AND
An electric motor that is 750 watts or less and cannot be gas-powered.

There is no restriction on the class of e-bikes eligible for this program. NOTE, however, per Santa Monica Municipal Code § 3.12.600, it shall be unlawful to ride or operate a motorized bicycle or a class 3 (as defined in the California Vehicle Code) electric bicycle, personal assistive mobility device, electrically motorized board, low-speed vehicle, motorized scooter, or other vehicle upon the Beach Bike-Path.

Vouchers can also be used on non-electric bikes if the recipient chooses; however, full suspension mountain bikes are excluded from the program.

What are the benefits of e-biking?

Electric bikes have various social, environmental, and health benefits. Check out Pedal Ahead's “Why Electric Bikes?” for an explanation of these benefits.

How does biking help Santa Monica?

Sustainable Mobility is a key pillar of Santa Monica’s Climate Action and Adaption Plan. Vehicle Transportation contributes over 60% of Santa Monica’s carbon emissions. In order to help reduce emissions, the City is working to convert 50% of local car trips to foot, bike, scooter and skateboards. Increasing biking will play an important role in Santa Monica’s mission to meet climate goals, improve public health and build community resiliency.

Are there any other similar e-bike programs I can apply for?

E-bike incentive programs are gaining rapid popularity. The State of California is expecting to roll out an e-bike voucher program this Summer 2024. Applications are not yet open, but you can follow the program and find more information on their website (here). Otherwise, Santa Monica’s E-bike Voucher program is one of the only active voucher programs in LA county currently. We hope to see more programs to come soon.

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Continue the Process:

Determine Your Eligibility

Submit Your Application

Congratulations! You Have Been Selected

Redeeming Your Voucher

Enjoy Your E-Bike!