TAMPA, Fla. — Tampa's E-Bike Voucher Program is pedaling into full gear after a successful ride in the spring.
The program offers a select amount of $1,000, $2,000 or $3,000 vouchers for City of Tampa residents over the age of 18 to purchase an e-bike. This spring, the city handed out 112 vouchers to residents.
This summer, Tampa is opening the application back up at 8 a.m. on August 18, 2024, and closing it at 5 p.m. on August 30, 2024. For the fall/summer round, there will be 108 vouchers.
Recipients of the voucher are chosen through a lottery-style drawing. Tampa residents who submitted applications in the spring but were not picked will be rolled over into this drawing.
The voucher can only be redeemed at one of the participating bike shops, which has not been announced yet. Tampa bike shops that are interested in participating in the voucher program can apply on the city of Tampa website.
There are $1,000 standard vouchers and $2,000 and $3,000 vouchers for low and very low incomes. Those who qualify for each voucher include:
- Standard vouchers, $1,000
- Any applicant meeting the basic application requirements
- May be redeemed for any Class I, Class II or eCargo Bike
- Low-income qualified vouchers, $2,000
- Residents in households making 80% or less of the Federal Median Household Income
- May be redeemed for any Class I, Class II or eCargo Bike
- Very low-income qualified vouchers, $3,000
- Residents in households making 50% or less of the Federal Median Household Income
- May be redeemed for any Class I, Class II or eCargo Bike
The Class I, Class II and eCargo bikes are the only voucher-supported bikes. These do not require license and registration and reach a maximum speed of 20 mph.
- Class I
- Pedal-assist only
- No throttle
- Maximum assisted speed of 20 mph
- Class II
- Throttle-assisted
- Maximum speed of 20 mph
- eCargo
- Pedal-assist supported
- Throttle-assisted
- Maximum speed of 20 mph
The program is designed to get cars off the road and more people on bikes. Previous e-bike voucher recipients have reported doubling the amount they're riding, and more than 70% say they are using their car less, according to a news release from the City of Tampa.