WSDOT Helping Launch New E-Bike Rebate Program

The Washington State Department of Transportation is launching a new program in April designed to make electrically-powered bicycles or “e-bikes” more affordable to state residents.

[Above photo by WSDOT]

WSDOT’s new program – launched with its newly-selected vendor, APTIM, LLC – will provide state residents with rebates through point-of-sale discounts on e-bikes and associated safety equipment, with funding for the rebates from $5 million allocated by the state legislature within its 2024 supplemental transportation budget.

[Editor’s note: In early January, the Adventure Cycling Association, in partnership with the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials, recently announced a major expansion of the United States Bicycle Route System or USBRS, with four new routes being added in three states.]

”I am thrilled to share that following a competitive bid process in 2024, WSDOT identified APTIM to develop the technology and processes the agency needs to safely and securely manage the program,” said Adele Peers, who oversees WSDOT’s e-bike program, in a statement.

She added that APTIM has nationwide experience delivering e-bike rebate programs at the local and state levels for the cities of Boston, MA; Bentonville, AR; plus the Colorado cities of Boulder and Denver.

WSDOT noted that APTIM is currently finalizing the e-bike rebate program’s logistics – which includes training for bike shops participating in this endeavor – and is also building a secure online portal to accept rebate applications, distribute rebates, and reimburse bike shops for sales.

State departments of transportation across the country are involved in related “active transportation” efforts in support of various pedestrian and bicycling initiatives.

Maryland DOT’s Paul Wiedefeld. Photo by Maryland DOT.

For example, in September 2024, the Maryland Department of Transportation began developing what it calls a “landmark action plan” to improve and expand trail connectivity statewide.

The agency said this plan will guide future investment in shared-use paths, helping to advance efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, boost alternatives to driving, and prioritize the safety of all road users across the transportation network.

And in May 2024, the Utah Department of Transportation issued nearly $95 million to support 19 trail projects – including the construction of new paved trails as well as funding for planning efforts to fill in existing trail gaps – as part of creating a regional “Utah Trail Network” across the state.

The agency said that it collaborated with communities statewide regarding the allocation of that funding – approved by the Utah Transportation Commission – to select the key projects for this statewide trail network.

Also, the Texas Department of Transportation is developing a Statewide Active Transportation Plan or SATP to gather recommendations for improving bicycling, walking, and rolling conditions across the Lone Star state.

TxDOT noted the SATP is being integrated with its other long-range mobility plans to help it maintain a safe, accessible, connected, and fully integrated multimodal transportation system for the future, since the population of Texas is expected to grow by 28 percent by 2050.