Washington state e-bike incentive starting soon

[Koolau]

That's quite a giveaway.......very generous of the government....If $122,000 a year is the average HH income in the Seattle area, then 80% (who get the $1,200 of free money) income would be $107,360 HH income!!!! And the rich folks who earn more than that get $300. Sweet handout for the lucky.

And he who is fastest on the keyboard gets the free money before it goes away.

That seems so bizarre to me.

Good luck w/the race to the computer and getting the handout from the government.

Makes me question who sells these bikes in Seattle...He/She better place an order and get ready to make bank......Also, looks like China will benefit also as I see that 86% of our e-bikes are made in China.

Very interesting.

It would be interesting to see if local prices go up (sudden increase in demand usually translates to higher prices.). Hopefully, someone local will let us know.

 

[skyking1]

Thank you for the heads-up.
@savory has pointed out many of the good reasons for the offer. The hills do deter the average rider in Seattle and a little E-assist can do wonders. I too did some Seattle bike commuting. You can put them in the light rail or on bus racks for longer hauls, and I brought my bike on the sounder from 40 miles away every day, then rode the last 5 miles to work.
If the weather was nice I would keep riding down the line on the way home. Next stop was Tukwila station at 17 miles. I did that several times.
I did ride the 44 miles all the way to Puyallup one time.
A moderate assist bike does ot weigh that much more for putting on the bus racks or the light rail racks.
Seattle has some good routes and interurban trails that get you off the street with the cars.

 

[Fermion]

Program is live now. You have two weeks to apply for a $300 or $1200 rebate, lottery style. Of course, with 104% tariffs, a $1200 bike is now $2500 but hey!

 

[skyking1]

Thanks @Fermion
Interesting details:
Income qualified applicants can get the $1200 rebate, and everyone eise is eligible for the $300

They figure that 60% will go to the income qualified applicants.
The vouchers are good only at specified bike shops in the state.

 

[Chuckanut]

Of course, with 104% tariffs, a $1200 bike is now $2500 but hey!

Ummm… not quite. The tariff is what the USA buyer pays for the bike, after any deductions for parts made the USA (probably not significant), So, if the importer pays $700 for the bike the tariff would be 104% of $700 or a paltry $728 for a total price (assuming no other changes) of $1,928.

I also don’t think the tariffs apply to things like shipping charges that go into the final price calculations.

At least this is my understanding of how the tariffs work. If I am wrong, the tariff cognoscenti will hopefully correct me.

Don’t get me started on more subsidies while the state of WA is running multi-billion dollar deficits and our elected leaders are screaming for more and higher taxes.

 

[Koolau]

Ummm… not quite. The tariff is what the USA buyer pays for the bike, after any deductions for parts made the USA (probably not significant), So, if the importer pays $700 for the bike the tariff would be 104% of $700 or a paltry $728 for a total price (assuming no other changes) of $1,928.

I also don’t think the tariffs apply to things like shipping charges that go into the final price calculations.

At least this is my understanding of how the tariffs work. If I am wrong, the tariff cognoscenti will hopefully correct me.

Don’t get me started on more subsidies while the state of WA is running multi-billion dollar deficits and our elected leaders are screaming for more and higher taxes.

Yeah, tariffs are a new issue to be upset about. Subsidies are an old thorn in my, uh... er, side but YMMV.

 

[Fermion]

I think this money is separate, from the billions in carbon tax they have been collecting from us in Washington state on gasoline. 10% by law has to go to build more Indian casinos but the other 90% is up for grabs for green stuff.

 

[Fermion]

"Thank you for applying to the WE-Bike Instant Rebate Program.

You were not randomly selected for an instant rebate; however, we have placed you on the wait list.


We will continue to run random selections periodically over the next two months to ensure the funding for this program is fully utilized. Please keep an eye on your email inbox for notice that you were selected. If you are selected, you will have 96 hours to submit your proof of residency (and if applicable documentation verifying your income eligibility). We will notify everyone who is not selected once the funds for the program have been fully allocated.


Best regards,
The WE-Bikes Instant Rebate Program Team "

 

[savory]

I think this money is separate, from the billions in carbon tax they have been collecting from us in Washington state on gasoline. 10% by law has to go to build more Indian casinos but the other 90% is up for grabs for green stuff.

Perhaps we are looking at different things. What I found is gas stations on Indian reservations keep 75% of the state tax they collect at their stations. The other 25% goes to the State. As for use of those funds, the current regulation is the funds must go to transportation needs on the reservation.

There was a short period during the pandemic that the funds could be directed to any thing the Tribe determined to be important to them. But that went away in 2023 and the choice for use of funds reverted to the pre-pandemic transportation uses.

Competitive service stations are reported not to be happy about the lower prices offered by the tribal gas stations since they believe the tribe has directed some of their tax related savings to reducing the per gallon charge at their stations.

AI Overview

+4

In Washington State, tribally owned gas stations on reservations are subject to a 75/25 state fuel tax agreement. This means the stations collect the full state gas tax rate from customers, but then the state refunds 75% of that tax back to the tribe. The refunded funds are intended for transportation-related purposes on the reservation

As for the carbon tax, the following suggests how the money is directed:

Tribal projects can encompass a wide range of initiatives undertaken by or benefiting tribal communities. In Washington State, the Washington State Department of Ecologyimplements programs like the Climate Commitment Act (CCA), which involves a cap-and-invest program where funds are used for projects like transportation emission reductions and other initiatives. The CCA also includes auction revenue that supports various projects, including those focused on reducing transportation emissions.

Here's a more detailed breakdown of some common types of tribal projects:

1. Climate Resilience and Adaptation:

• Tribal Climate Resilience Annual Awards Program:
  This program supports planning and implementation projects for climate adaptation, community relocation, and other climate-related efforts, says the U.S. Department of the Interior.
• Climate Adaptation Planning:
  Tribal communities are actively involved in developing strategies to adapt to changing climates, including building infrastructure that is resilient to extreme weather events, says the U.S. Department of the Interior.
• Community-Led Relocation and Protection:
  Many tribal communities are facing challenges like sea level rise, and projects involve community-led relocation or relocation in a way that prioritizes community needs, says the U.S. Department of the Interior.
• Ocean and Coastal Management:
  Tribal communities often have a unique relationship with coastal resources, and projects focus on managing and protecting these resources while addressing climate-related threats.
• Habitat Restoration and Adaptation:
  Projects aim to restore ecosystems, particularly those that are crucial for the health of tribal communities, and to adapt these ecosystems to changing conditions.
  

2. Transportation and Emission Reduction:

• Reducing Transportation Emissions:
  Projects focus on investing in alternatives to single-occupancy passenger vehicles, like electric vehicle charging infrastructure and promoting public transportation, says the Washington State Department of Ecology.
• Investing in Emissions Reduction Programs:
  This includes projects aimed at reducing emissions from freight, ferries, and ports, according to the Washington State Department of Ecology.
  

3. Other Notable Projects:

• Economic Development:
  Tribal communities are involved in various economic development projects, including businesses, tourism, and resource management, says the U.S. Department of the Interior.
• Cultural Preservation:
  Projects focused on preserving and promoting tribal cultures, languages, and traditions, says the U.S. Department of the Interior.
• Community Infrastructure:
  Projects focused on improving infrastructure like roads, utilities, and housing within tribal communities.
• Environmental Protection:
  Projects aimed at protecting tribal lands and water resources.

 

[Teacher Terry]

The only place I will ride a bike is on trails. In my line of work I have seen too many people severely injured by being hit by a car. Good luck on being selected for the rebate.

 

[savory]

The only place I will ride a bike is on trails. In my line of work I have seen too many people severely injured by being hit by a car. Good luck on being selected for the rebate.

Teacher Terry, you need to follow your own judgement. It is great you use your bikes to help maintain your health. Here are some stats that help me decide to commute by bike as much as possible:

The stats for 2023, "in the United States saw a record number of bicyclist fatalities, with preliminary estimates indicating 1,149 deaths. This represents a significant increase from previous years and continued a troubling trend of rising bicyclist deaths." However, there was a 1% decrease in 2024. While that is a lot, If you take all 50 states, that is about 24 people that die per year, per state. That seems like a low number to me, even when considering the number of bicyclists that are on the road. It is still too many but less than I think most people realize.

It is safe to say no less than 10 and maybe as many as 15 of the 24 cyclists per state who are killed in collisions (I did not take the time to research this) have little to no formal or self training in bicycle safety. For example, sidewalk riding is more dangerous than street riding. Mainly because intersections (which includes driveways homes/businesses) are the most likely place for collisions. Parents however direct their kids, even those 11+, to ride on the sidewalk and often provide little direction about the importance of intersection safety because they are not aware of the collision statistics. The other disproportional group represented in these statistics are late night workers, such as restaurant employees. Again biking without safety education and perhaps without lights at longer distances, back to their neighborhoods with poor street lighting sets up a dangerous situation. However, they may not have a real choice given an income need and lack of public transport.

But of total bicyclists, I expect most have not learned the safest approaches for safe biking. For example, the safest road position on narrow roads without bike lanes is in the same space as a motor vehicle's right tire. That position in the street makes the uneducated nervous. However, that is the place a cyclist is most visible. Intersection positioning and tips are as important.

For those reading this, if you want to begin to bike on the road or have friends/family who already do, you may want to tell them about the Bike Leagues Ridesmart on line video series. There are about 15 one minute videos on safe street cycling. About Smart Cycling | League of American Bicyclists . There are programs that offer classes which are more in-depth but Ridesmart is a leap forward for the uneducated.

As for people with SUVs and pick-ups, your vehicle is prone to cause the greatest amount of damage/death to peds and cyclists of any motor vehicle. One of the reasons expected for the increase in deaths is the growth of these vehicles. These vehicles do more damage even at slower speeds given their weight and boxy front end that results in more contact to the ped or biker in a collision.

 

[Chuckanut]

Billions of dollars of tax increases in WA state despite record high tax revenue, and we have money to subsidize e-bikes for a few. Amazing.

 

[Koolau]

Billions of dollars of tax increases in WA state despite record high tax revenue, and we have money to subsidize e-bikes for a few. Amazing.

Reminds me of taking a full lane from our busiest street in downtown Honolulu and turn it into a bike lane. It rarely gets used because people here don't use bikes for "getting somewhere" (like shopping), they bike for exercise which means they don't do it "downtown." BUT Honolulu got to snag a few truck loads of Federal dollars so they do what they always do. Federal dollars is also how we got the Honolulu Rail (from nowhere to nowhere). But I'm not bitter!