Bicycle Advocacy Projects Young People Can Do to Get People Riding in 2023

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Growing recognition of bicycling as an effective carbon-free transportation option has led more youth to get involved beyond just hopping on and riding. Bicycle advocacy can be a terrific basis for a community project for school, or just for fun. 

We’ve put together some projects that serve as a good entry point to bicycle advocacy for high school students or anyone who wants to get more involved.

What is bicycle advocacy? The basics.

A bicycle advocate is anyone who works to make our streets safer and more inviting for people who ride bikes or someone who helps people feel more comfortable riding. 

youth with bike

Successful bike advocates:

  • Work in coalition. Bike advocacy isn’t a solitary activity. You can work with other bike advocates or collaborate with people working toward related goals, such as pedestrian safety, transportation justice, equitable access to public transportation, etc.
  • Find the helpers. As Mr. Rogers said, it’s crucial to find your helpers. For bike advocacy, helpers can include local bicycle coalitions, your peers and other community members, local government or agency staff, elected officials, or other bicycle advocacy groups.
  • Educate yourself about what would make your community more bike-friendly. You don’t have to reinvent the wheel; people are probably already working on solutions to make your neighborhood more bikeable. Find out what others have done in the past and what plans there are for the future. Your efforts will be more successful if you can show how they align with plans that are already in the works.

Here are six bicycle advocacy projects you can do to make a difference in your community.

Form a bicycle school bus

A bicycle bus is a group ride to school. Bike buses are becoming increasingly popular, especially after a large bike bus of elementary school kids in Portland made the news. 

Benefits of a bike bus:

  • There’s safety in numbers, so riding together makes it safer and easier for students to bike to school.
  • Introducing young people to the joy of biking wherever they need to go is an excellent way to create lifelong riders.
  • Bike riding promotes health.
  • It’s much more fun to ride with friends than get dropped off in a car.
  • Bike buses replace car trips and ease congestion at school drop-offs.
  • Seeing young people ride will encourage others to join.


Is your school or another in your community easily bikeable for some of the students? You could be the catalyst by starting a bike bus.

Getting started:

  • Figure out the route. Is there a bike-friendly route that is close to where many students live? Ride the route ahead of time to determine how long it will take and any obstacles along the way.
  • Work with school and parent groups. It’s critical to get buy-in from parents and your school to make your project successful. Spread the word through parent and school email groups, and attend a PTA or school board meeting.
  • Where will students park their bikes? Work with the school to ensure that there’s enough secure bike parking on school grounds. Do some research on recommended bike parking and advise your school on best practices.
  • Do you need more help? Depending on the age of the group riding together, you may need additional adults or responsible youth leaders to ride with you. If the students in your group are high school age, you may be able to ride together with little or no adult supervision. However, if you create a bike bus for elementary school kids, plan to have one adult for every 3-5 children on the ride. That shouldn’t be hard — many parents will want to ride along.
  • What days will you ride? Set up a regular schedule so people can plan on joining the bike bus. Pro tip: Start with one day and let your bicycle bus grow organically.

More resources:

girl in pink helmet header

Host a bike and helmet decorating event

Riding is more fun when your bike and helmet are personalized. And you don’t need expensive materials: colored duct tape, markers, glitter, and stickers are all great for decorating bikes and helmets.

Benefits of a bike decorating party:

  • A decorating party lets people show off their creativity and could get them to ride more.
  • A decorated helmet is more fun to wear, especially for younger kids, and turns safety equipment into a fun accessory.
  • This event boosts equity, allowing kids whose families might not be able to afford a fancy helmet or bike to make their gear unique and colorful.

Getting started:

  • Who will you invite? Figure out your target audience. Is this for students in your grade or some younger classmates or neighbors? That will determine the materials you need and how you spread the word.
  • Get materials. You can buy materials for decorating at a local art supply store, or a big box store such as Target. Thrift stores can also be a great source for fabric and other decorative items and, if your community has a resource like SCRAP in San Francisco that sells recycled materials, you can save money and find cool stuff for your art party.
  • Find a venue. An outdoor space such as a park, parking lot, or schoolyard will work well for your decorating party. Get permission (if needed) and make sure attendees will have access to bathrooms and water for washing up.

More resources:

Lead a community or fundraising ride

School isn’t the only destination for a group ride. You could organize people to ride together to a farmers market, performance, community event, or other destination. It could be a one-time event or a regular outing.

You can also do a ride to fundraise for or bring attention to a cause that’s meaningful to you. For example, the Ride for a Reason started out with just four people whose children went to Oakland public schools. They rode to Sacramento to bring attention to the lack of funding for public schools in 2008. By 2022, the ride had grown to 250 people and also raised money for local public schools.  

Benefits of a community ride:

  • Riding with a group is a great way for new riders to learn the ropes and gain confidence. When you create a community ride, you help grow the bicycling community.
  • There’s safety in numbers.
  • Your visibility on the streets increases awareness that bike riding is popular and fun for people in your neighborhood.
  • Riding together builds community and strengthens relationships.
  • Community rides can bring attention to places lacking bicycle infrastructure and build pressure to fix the problem.

If there’s somewhere you would like to take a group by bike, organizing a ride is a terrific project.

Getting started:

  • Figure out start and endpoints. Find a good meeting place to start the ride, such as a park or public plaza. 
  • Scope out the route. Ride from the starting point to the destination beforehand and determine the timing and route for your group ride.
  • Where is the bike parking? Find out where people can park at the destination, so you can let your riders know.
  • Get help. Depending on the size of your community ride, it’s likely you’ll need help before and during the ride. Having several riders familiar with the route assigned to ensure that no one gets left behind will make the event safer and more enjoyable for everyone.
  • Spread the word. How will you organize the ride and let people know about it? You could create an event on social media and ask people to RSVP, post flyers, spread the word through your local networks, or get the ride listed on the calendar of your local bicycle coalition.

More resources:

Create a traffic-calming street mural

A new study has confirmed that artwork painted on the roadway helps slow down cars and make the streets safer for people biking and walking. And a street mural can be a fun and collaborative community project that enhances the neighborhood. You could paint a circle in the middle of an intersection or add a colorful design to a bike lane to set it apart from the rest of the roadway.

Benefits of painted streets:

  • Calms traffic
  • Adds color and art to the neighborhood
  • Provides a fun, creative project where people of all ages can participate

Getting started:

  • Get permission. You’ll need to go to your local public works department to get permission to paint on a municipal street. That could involve going to committee meetings, lobbying your city council, and meeting with other local officials. Be patient — the process of getting approvals, especially if it’s something your community has never done before, can take a while.
  • Connect with artists. Who will design your mural? Do you want to hire a professional muralist to do the design or lead a youth group to make the artwork? 
  • Find funding. You’ll need money for paint and, possibly, to pay an artist for a design. Make sure you use a type of paint that your city approves for street painting and that will last through rain and being driven over.
  • Get a group of painters. The painters don’t have to be experienced artists. Your muralist can draw the outline and give instructions, and people of all ages can play a part in putting paint on the pavement. You’ll need to work quickly, particularly if you need to block traffic while painting, so a big group is recommended. 

Pro tip: If the steps to create a permanent mural are too much, use chalk to draw on the pavement and create temporary artwork. You won’t need the permits and you can still bring the community together for a day of fun that reclaims common space for people who walk and bike.

More resources:

Community bike shops provide low-cost or free bikes

Bring a bicycle education class to your school

Giving people the knowledge and skills they need to ride safely is a terrific way to get people biking. A bicycle education program is the best way to gain skills, but most people don’t have the time or inclination to seek out a bike riding class (or think they already know it all).

Benefits of a bike education class:

  • Educates people on how to ride more safely
  • Encourages people to ride more
  • Creates confident, safe bike riders who understand the rules of the road

Getting started:

  • Find bike instructors. The League of American Bicyclists has a certification program for bicycling instructors, and you can find one near you on their website. But first, contact your local bicycle coalition. Many bicycle advocacy groups offer biking classes with certified instructors, and they may be able to help you arrange bike riding classes at your school.
  • Coordinate with school administrators. Work with school personnel to get the required permissions and find an appropriate space. You might need outdoor space if your class includes on-bike training.
  • Find funding. You’ll need money to pay for the instructor’s time and materials, if any. Find out the costs and ask your bicycle coalition and your school for financial support. You could do a fundraising ride for bicycle education!

More resources:

Advocate for a bikeway that will make your community safer 

Telegraph protected bike lane
Telegraph protected bike lane

Is there a street you’d like to ride but it doesn’t have a safe bikeway? Join with your local bicycle coalition and other local safe streets advocates to ask your community to prioritize this route for improvements or to build a specific bikeway.

Benefits of advocating for a new bikeway:

  • If you’re successful, you’ll create a new biking route or make a current route safer.
  • You’ll learn valuable lessons about how local government works that you can use to advocate for other causes.
  • You’ll connect with your local bicycling community.
  • In the process of pushing for a new bikeway, you’ll learn more about safe bike infrastructure design and implementation.
  • It’s an excellent way to learn more about how your local government works.

Getting started:

  • Connect with your local bike advocacy group. Find out if they already have a campaign on your street that you can join. If not, ask them to add your bike route to their list of campaigns.
  • Learn the repaving schedule. Your city probably has a public works department that’s in charge of road repairs. Find out when the street that needs a bikeway is scheduled for repaving; that’s the best (least expensive) time to add a better bikeway. 
  • Connect with the agency in charge of this route. If your city has a person or a department in charge of bike infrastructure, let them know where you see a need. Some communities have citizen-led bicycle advisory committees; go to a meeting and ask to get your bikeway on the agenda.
  • Conduct a public comment training. Meet with others who support your cause and brainstorm the most effective messages for upcoming meetings about it. Write down ideas and practice making public comments so you’ll make a big impact when you get to speak.
  • Go to city meetings. Brink your issue to your city council’s transportation committee. Don’t give up — infrastructure changes can take time.

More resources:

For more ideas: join your local bicycle coalition

youth with bike

Here are two more ideas you might want to consider:

  • Bring bicycle repair resources to your school. One of the biggest reasons people don’t ride is that their bike breaks down, and they don’t know how to fix it. See if there’s a traveling bike repair van that could come to your school. Or partner with a community bike shop to host a bike repair class for youth.
  • Create a bike donation drive. Ask people in your community to donate bikes they don’t need anymore to a community bike shop. You can also connect people who need a bike with a low-cost or free donated bike.

One of the best ways to jumpstart your bicycle advocacy is to team up with experienced and passionate advocates. You’ll find them at your local bicycle coalition or other safe streets advocacy group. They can connect you with bike advocacy projects and a community of people who care about biking, like you.

 

San Francisco Voters Lead Surge in Car-Free California Streets

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Photo courtesy of Kid Safe SF.

The Slow Streets movement, spawned during the lockdown phase of the pandemic, has largely faded as communities remove barriers and erase safe spaces. But the experience of streets centered on community and placemaking seems to have given a boost to the movement for car-free spaces. Bike activists, including CalBike and many local bicycle coalitions, have worked for years to create more space for people biking and walking in California, and combined with a growing awareness of the need for change, those efforts have borne fruit. 

Cities across California have removed vehicular traffic to create safe spaces for people to walk and bike. One particularly notable example is JFK Drive in San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park, because of the deep-pocketed opposition to the project and the people-power that overcame that opposition at the ballot box, but there are many exciting new car-free spaces around the state.

Car-free spaces open across California

Business districts that would have once fought to keep car traffic now celebrate car-free space that attracts shoppers and diners. Over the past year, we’ve seen some exciting new open streets in California cities, including:

  • Gaslamp Promenade, San Diego. A section of Fifth Avenue in San Diego’s historic Gaslamp district has been converted to pedestrianized plazas for much of the day, while allowing vehicular traffic for deliveries for a window of time in the morning.
  • State Street Promenade, Santa Barbara. Ten blocks in the heart of Santa Barbara’s retail and dining district are now safe space for people biking and walking, with plenty of room for outdoor dining and markets.
  • San Francisco Shared Spaces. San Francisco has created a program for regular, permitted, open streets in neighborhoods across the city. The spaces are sponsored by local businesses, merchant associations, or community organizations and include weekend outdoor dining and shopping experiences, space for farmer’s markets, plazas for outdoor socializing, and more.
  • Griffith Park, Los Angeles. The park that’s home to LA’s Hollywood sign is also a popular spot for recreational rides in a city that isn’t always bike-friendly. After years of conflicts between people on bikes and people in cars, and a deadly collision earlier this year, the city closed a section of roadway to cars, with a promise to study more road closures in the future.

This isn’t a comprehensive list; we probably missed some fabulous car-free spaces around California. Please let us know if we left your local reclaimed street off the list.

San Francisco voters choose car-free JFK Promenade

JFK Drive is a main thoroughfare through San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park. Though the park is designed as a place for recreation and respite from city life, motorists often used the park’s roads as a cut-through to get to the ocean or travel between neighborhoods, creating dangerous conditions for people on bikes. 

JFK promenade KId Safe SF
Photo courtesy of Kid Safe SF

Over the years, San Francisco has slowly expanded car-free space on JFK Drive, first to every Saturday, then to Sundays as well. Each expansion of the beloved space for people to bike, walk, skate, and dance was met with loud protests, and the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition fought hard to make it happen.

Then came 2020, and San Francisco temporarily made a large section of the street car-free 24/7, giving residents safe outdoor space for exercise and recreation. As the pandemic waned (will it ever really end?), advocates came together to campaign for a permanent closure and, in April 2022, the San Francisco City Council voted to make the JFK Promenade permanent.

That seemed like the end of the story, until a wealthy board member of the de Young Museum, which sits off of, and can be accessed by, JFK Drive, put Measure I on the ballot to restore car traffic on weekdays. Proposition I also included allowing cars on the Great Highway (a coastal road that had become the Great Walkway during the pandemic, with plans to study weekend open streets) as a bonus, though almost all the backing for the measure came from people and organizations with interests in Golden Gate Park.

Car-free advocates countered with Measure J, to keep the roadway open to people. “Throughout the campaign, hundreds of volunteers spent thousands of hours talking to voters across San Francisco about the value of safe, protected open space, and more than a dozen local advocacy organizations came together to support the car-free JFK Promenade,” Robin Pam from Kid Safe SF told CalBike. “The force of passionate volunteers and partner organizations powered the campaign from start to finish, and ultimately made the difference on election day.”

On November 8, that hard work paid off with a resounding victory for open space. Prop I lost by 25 points, with almost 63% of San Franciscans voting no, and Prop J passed by 22 points, with 61% in favor.

“By passing Prop J and rejecting Prop I, San Francisco voters showed their strong preference for public spaces that prioritize safe access and recreation for kids, seniors, people with disabilities, and all San Franciscans,” Pam said. “We’re proud of this community and the growing movement for safe open space, safe streets, and active transportation in San Francisco and beyond.”

The future of open streets?

There’s no doubt that the pandemic accelerated the movement to reclaim civic space for people, increasing safety, giving people places to connect, and improving the quality of life for residents. And the imperative to find new ways to get around that don’t contribute to climate change adds urgency to the changes we need to see in our communities.

Valencia Open Streets 11.22

But the seeds of this change were planted years ago with events like Bogotá’s Ciclovia and San Francisco’s Critical Mass. 

It’s easy to fall into the mindset that businesses and residents need easy car access to have vibrant neighborhoods, but it’s also easy to change that mindset. For example, when San Francisco held its first Sunday Streets open streets event along the Embarcadero, the ride stopped short of Fisherman’s Wharf, a popular tourist destination. The merchants in the neighborhood were adamant that they didn’t want the street closure by their shops. 

However, after they saw how many people came out for Sunday Streets, Fisherman’s Wharf merchants jumped at the chance to be included in the event the following year. The streets were so packed with people during that first Sunday Streets at the wharf that there was barely room to move.

By the same token, San Francisco’s Valencia Street was hopping on a recent Saturday night, with outdoor dining, live music, artist booths, and storefronts bustling with restaurants, bars, taquerias, and shops. A child rode her scooter down the middle of the street in the dark, and one local resident said she felt like she’d stepped onto a street in Europe.

The more people and merchants get to experience open streets, the more we appreciate the power of car-free space to build community and drive economic vitality. CalBike hopes to see more of these spaces created around our state in the months and years ahead.

Announcing the California Mobility Fund

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CalBike is pleased to make it official: our tax-deductible arm, the California Bicycle Coalition Education Fund, has now become the California Mobility Fund. It took a while for the paperwork to be finalized, but we’re thrilled to dive into the new opportunities that will open for our rebranded, tax-deductible sister organization.

The new name will better reflect our work to create social change that will protect our planet and build healthy, just communities. 

CalBike and the California Mobility Fund, explained

CalBike (aka the California Bicycle Coalition) is a nonprofit organization. However, we have two divisions: a 501(c)3 and a 501(c)4. CalBike is the 501(c)4, and the California Mobility Fund is our 501(c)3. Here are the big differences:

  • CalBike is allowed to participate in electoral politics, which is why we can endorse candidates and ballot measures.
  • Donations to CalBike support our hard-hitting advocacy and are not tax-deductible.
  • The California Mobility Fund cannot endorse candidates.
  • Donations to the California Mobility Fund are tax-deductible. 

Why did we change the name to the California Mobility Fund?

Much of the work CalBike does is about making mobility equitable and sustainable. A bike is a great tool for this — but it also makes sense to look beyond the bike. 

We need to cut car emissions drastically (by as much as 45% by 2030) if we want to avert climate disaster. We can’t do this by just switching to EVs — it won’t happen fast enough, and it will leave out disadvantaged communities. And while we will continue our work to make bicycling a safe and appealing transportation option, we know that bikes aren’t the answer for everyone.

Through the California Mobility Fund, we will collaborate with housing, transit, environmental, and justice organizations to fight for a sustainable and just future, fostering communities where residents don’t have to rely on cars. Our new name reflects our commitment to the intersectional work of environmental and social justice. 

We look forward to working with you toward these goals!

Leading Pedestrian Interval Puts People Walking First

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A leading pedestrian interval (LPI) gives pedestrians a 3- to 7-second head start on a walk signal before the parallel car traffic is given a green light. This simple, low-cost adjustment has been demonstrated to lower pedestrian-on-vehicle crashes by 13%. In 2022, CalBike advocated for a measure that will expand the use of LPIs (the recently passed AB 2264).

Expensive, flashy infrastructure projects often attract the most attention, but equally, if not more important, are simple, low-cost solutions that deliver results to everyday road users. The fact that many residents don’t even notice the change to intersections actually speaks to the effectiveness of the measure. State law mandates LPIs at Caltrans-controlled intersections, but local planners should also implement this critical safety measure because it’s a simple step to help combat the rise in pedestrian fatalities. 

The Los Angeles Department of Transportation has recently implemented LPI at a limited number of intersections throughout Los Angeles. To get a sense of how LPI informs pedestrian behavior, CalBike recently went to the corner of Normandie and Hollywood to observe crossings and ask people their thoughts on the initiative. We chose this bustling intersection located in East Hollywood with corner stores and businesses on every corner and e-bike share on the northwest corner. It serves a wide array of users during commuting hours on a Wednesday. 

Nicole lives a few blocks away and said she recognized the change as soon as it happened: “They put in poles by the turn lanes at the same time.” Nicole indicated that the changes had changed driver behavior making left turns. “I feel safer walking to the coffee shop for sure!” she said.

“They should do that everywhere!” Juan, a retired military serviceman, said. He said he had not noticed the update, though he moved to the neighborhood from Koreatown for its increased walkability. Juan insisted that safety is important and pedestrians should be aware of their surroundings to maximize safety. “You don’t get this old by not being smart!” he said.

Micah lives nearby and was renting a Metro e-bike to take to work in Echo Park, “When you take into account parking, this is the fastest way to get there,” he said. The morning we stopped by was rainy and cold. Micah noticed the early walk signs but was not aware he could cross on his bike. “Good to know,” Micah said before starting his brisk commute down Hollywood Boulevard. 

Hollywood and Normandie is situated between two LA Metro stations and serviced by popular bus routes along both cross streets. The flow of pedestrians rises and falls dramatically as buses service the area. Prioritizing pedestrian safety proactively with default LPIs (meaning the walk sign shows on red even without being requested) is a simple and effective measure that increases safety and comfort for people walking in the area. 

The evolution of this intersection is emblematic of the changing dynamics of this part of Los Angeles. Several high-density apartment buildings have been built within a one-mile radius of Hollywood and Normandie since 2020, increasing the number of pedestrians at an already busy intersection. 

For active transportation to be viable, safety is paramount. CalBike applauds LADOT’s embrace of LPI and looks forward to seeing more LA intersections added in the future. And, with the passage of the OmniBike Bill, AB 1909, bikes can proceed on walk signals, including LPIs, so people on bikes will also get the benefit of increased visibility.

E-Bike Purchase Incentives FAQs

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We’ve been getting a lot of questions about the e-bike purchase incentive project that CalBike helped pass and that the California Air Resources Board (CARB) is implementing. It’s an exciting program, and information hasn’t always been easy to come by. So we’ve compiled some of the most common questions from people who want to get a voucher, bike retailers who want to participate in the program, and others. 

The answers below are based on what we know now, as the e-bike program is still in its development phase. We plan to update them as more information becomes available.

Note: This post was originally written October 19, 2002, and updated on November 4, 2022.

TL;DR version:

  • No, you can’t apply for an e-bike incentive yet. The program will launch in 2023, and applications will open then. We will announce the launch date as far in advance as we can.
  • The voucher amount will likely be between $750 and $1,250 for a standard e-bike and $1,500 or more for a cargo or adaptive bike.
  • The pilot program is likely to be limited to Californians living at or below 400% of the federal poverty level.
  • There are many local e-bike incentive programs. Visit our e-bike page for a full list.

What is California’s Electric Bicycle Incentives Project?

The Electric Bicycle Incentives Project is a $10 million program to provide vouchers to California residents to help them afford an e-bike. CalBike advocated for the budget allocation, which passed in 2021 and funds the pilot project.

Can I get an e-bike voucher from CalBike?

No.

CalBike’s role is to push for more budget for the program, share information, and advocate for you, but we have no authority to process or distribute incentives. CARB will manage the incentive distribution process through its third-party administrator starting in 2023. We will share information about how to apply once it’s available, but CalBike won’t be involved in processing applications or awarding e-bike incentive vouchers.

When can I apply for a California e-bike incentive?

Not yet.

As of this writing, the California Air Resources Board statewide program is scheduled to launch in the first quarter of 2023, but that date could get pushed back slightly. 

You can’t apply in advance. However, if you sign up for CalBike’s e-bike mailing list below, we’ll let you know when the application window will open as soon as we get the date.

How do I apply for a voucher through California’s statewide e-bike incentives program?

The program administrator will set up an application process, and you will almost certainly be able to apply for the program online.

To apply, you’ll need documentation to prove that you meet the income qualifications. We’ll know more about the application process closer to the launch date.

How can I get assistance to buy an e-bike in California?

The Electric Bicycle Incentives Project will be California’s first statewide e-bike voucher program. However, there are many regional and local programs where you might be able to get funding to help you buy an e-bike now. 

SB 400, which CalBike helped pass in 2019, added an e-bike benefit to the Clean Cars for All program, which aims to take polluting cars off the road. If you have a qualifying car to turn in, incentives can be as high as $9,500, and you can use the funds to buy e-bikes and bike accessories for multiple family members. However, this program is administered by regional air quality management districts, and not all districts have added the e-bike benefit. We spoke to people who got this voucher in the Bay Area and Southern California to give you an idea of the process. Find out more details about the Bay Area program on this handy reference page.

In addition, there are numerous local programs through nonprofit organizations, utilities, and other entities. You can find many California programs on this list of global e-bike incentive programs.

How long does it take to get an e-bike incentive?

We don’t know how long the application process will take through the statewide program, but it will involve income verification and then finding an eligible bike vendor, so plan on at least a few weeks (and possibly longer) from when you apply.

For the Clean Cars program, the people we interviewed waited quite a few months to get through paperwork and approvals. For local programs, inquire directly about the timing.

Bottom line: If you need an e-bike ASAP, you might not want to wait to get a voucher.

Who will qualify for the California e-bike incentive program?

At the moment, CARB proposes limiting eligibility for the program to people whose income is less than 400% of the federal poverty level. That means the income caps (based on 2022 FPL amounts) would be:

  • Individual: $54,360
  • Family of 2: $73,240
  • Family of 3: $92,120
  • Family of 4: $111,000
  • Family of 5: $129,880

Please note that the details of the program are still being finalized, including income eligibility.

How much will the California e-bike incentives be?

The exact amount is not yet determined, but CARB is looking in the range of $750 to $1,250 for the basic incentive. The program will probably offer more funds for people buying a cargo or adaptive bike (at least $1,500) and additional funding to people living below 225% of the federal poverty level or living in a disadvantaged community.

What kinds of bikes qualify for incentives?

You can use the incentive to buy any type of e-bike, including a folding bike, cargo bike, or adaptive bike. 

E-bikes are grouped into three classes:

  • Class 1: pedal assist only, 20 mph speed limited — will qualify for the program
  • Class 2: pedal assist or throttle, 20 mph speed limited — will qualify for the program
  • Class 3: pedal assist only, 28 mph speed limited, helmets required, must be 16 or older to operate — likely to qualify for the program

Can I use an e-bike incentive to buy a conversion kit?

There are numerous conversion kits on the market that allow you to add aftermarket electric power to a standard bike frame. At the moment, conversion kits are not part of the proposed eligible purchases. The EV program for cars doesn’t cover conversions and CARB has let CalBike know that, to stay consistent, conversion kits probably won’t be eligible for vouchers through the e-bike incentives program.

Why can’t I get an incentive to buy a non-electric bike?

Excellent question. The current program covers only electric bike purchases, not standard or classic bikes. Electric bikes tend to be significantly more expensive than classic bikes, so a purchase incentive may be the only way for many people to afford one. In addition, many people who don’t feel comfortable riding a standard bike because of age, health issues, the need to carry passengers or cargo, etc., may replace car trips with bike trips on an electric bike.

However, the classic bicycle is incredibly energy-efficient and elegant transportation, and some places do offer incentives to help residents buy non-motorized bicycles. For example, the French government is offering 400 Euros to citizens who trade their cars for a bike or e-bike. CalBike would love to see a program like this in California and we will continue to explore ways to encourage more people to choose the joy of riding a bike.

Where can I buy an e-bike with a CARB incentive?

The program administrator will provide a list of qualifying bike retailers. You can buy from a bike shop or order an e-bike online. 

I’m an e-bike retailer. How can I participate in the program?

The administrator will set up a process for e-bike retailers who want to accept e-bike incentive vouchers to apply to participate. Qualifying retailers need to have some kind of physical presence in California (a shop, office, or manufacturing facility), even if you sell your bikes exclusively online. You may need to supply parts to local retailers so participants can have access to repairs and service.

The process for retailers to join the program has not been set yet. Sign up for our e-bike interest list below, and we’ll share information about retailer participation when it becomes available.

How can I help shape California’s statewide incentives program?

CARB has been holding work group meetings to take input on the program. Sign up for CARB’s e-bike email list to get notified of the next work group meeting later this fall. We also send advance notice of work group meetings through the CalBike list.

To send comments on the program directly, email CleanTransportationIncentives@arb.ca.gov.

How do I get more information about the e-bike incentive program?

Have we mentioned that CalBike has an e-bike incentives interest list? Use the form below to add your name, and we’ll send periodic updates as we get more information, including letting you know when you can apply.

You can also sign up for CARB’s e-bike email list to get information directly from CARB.

How Critical Mass Helped Create a Mass Movement to Take Back Our Streets

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If you’ve ever been to a protest march, you’ve probably heard people chanting, “Whose streets? Our streets!” But those moments of collective action to take streets back from cars are, at least in the U.S., usually fleeting. The exception: Critical Mass. The monthly bike ride, which has taken place on the last Friday in San Francisco since September 1992, gives visibility to people on bikes.

A month ago, we spoke with Chris Carlsson, one of the founders of Critical Mass, as the last Friday commute ride was about to celebrate its 30th anniversary. The ride, on September 30, 2022, coincided with one of the best days for bicycling in California, with a host of pro-biking and walking bills passed in Sacramento, including CalBike’s legislation to decriminalize jaywalking and get bike infrastructure built more quickly. 

The anniversary ride and this year’s legislative victories happened 90 miles and several worlds apart, but they are inextricably linked. Critical Mass brought visibility to the fact that bikes belong on our streets. The ride didn’t shy away from discomfiting drivers and sparked a vital conversation that we’re still having today.

chris carlsson Critical Mass
Chris Carlsson at Critical Mass 30th Anniversary

The first Critical Mass

As Carlsson tells it, the idea for the first ride, called the Commute Clot, was for bike commuters to ride home as a group for safety at a time when, he says, bike riders were “treated like shit on the streets.” 

“All the bicyclists knew each other in town,” Carlsson recalls. “There was a lot of creativity going on around bikes and politics.”

In 1992, before the internet, the initial organizers publicized the ride by printing and distributing flyers and would have been happy if 50 people showed up. Within six months, word had spread, and the monthly ride attracted 200 people; by the first anniversary, there were 1,000 riders. 

“The cops didn’t really even notice us till April of 1993,” Carlsson recalls. “The cops were at wit’s end by then.” The police would get in front of the ride; then, the ride would go in a different direction, playing cat and mouse. 

Carlsson wasn’t concerned about interacting with the police or the press. “The point was this reinhabitation of the city that we invented in real time that really couldn’t have been done any other way than just stumbling on it and doing it,” he says.

Within that first year, Critical Mass spread to several other cities worldwide. Now it takes place in more than 400 cities globally.

Clearing the way for more liveable cities

Although he thinks we still need Critical Mass, especially with the surge of traffic violence and backsliding on Vision Zero commitments, Carlsson rarely goes to the San Francisco rides anymore. They have become more of a celebration, and Carlsson wanted politics, wanted to have philosophical debates while riding. He still finds that energy at Critical Mass events in other countries (he was recently in Santiago, Chile) but not in the ride’s hometown. 

Here, Critical Mass is perhaps a victim of its success. It’s an event that seems to thrive on conflict: Its biggest visibility came when then-mayor Willie Brown picked a public fight with the event in 1997. Brown lost, and Critical Mass grew stronger. But, by its 20th anniversary in 2012, when thousands of riders took over the streets, the ride had already begun to change the urban landscape.

“The bike infrastructure we have today would not exist without Critical Mass — mass seizure of the streets,” Carlsson says. “It caught people’s imagination,” led to “an explosion of bicycling,” and created an activist culture that helped birth other movements, most notably Occupy. 

[pull quote]“The flow of bicycles is safer by staying in a mass and keeping moving,” Carlsson says. “We aren’t blocking traffic — we are traffic.”

To co-opt a saying about well-behaved women, polite bicyclists rarely change the culture. But a mass of disruptive bike riders, joyous and angry, catalyzed a movement, and we continue to reap its fruits.

CARB Electric Bicycle Incentives Project Work Group Report Back: September 28, 2022

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On September 28, 2022, the California Air Resources Board held a follow-up meeting of the Electric Bicycle Incentives Project work group to continue the discussion from the August meeting on the pilot of the statewide e-bike voucher program, which will launch in 2023. Participants weighed in on what types of e-bikes should qualify, how to distribute the funds equitably, incentive amounts and more.

Like the previous meeting in August, the session was well-attended, with almost 200 participants signing on to ask questions, participate in polling, and provide feedback on aspects of the program. Thank you to everyone who came and gave input. You are helping to make this a better program!

A poll on the base amount for the incentive showed that most participants want a higher amount than the $750 proposed by CARB. However, for this session, most of the discussion focused on which e-bikes should qualify and how to ensure that the funds are distributed as equitably as possible.

Incentive amounts polling for September 2022 CARB e-bike work group meeting

CARB Additional Incentive poll
CARB Base Incentive poll
Extra benefits polling

Class 3 e-bikes are transportation

California breaks e-bikes into three classifications:

  • Class 1: speed limited to 20 mph, pedal assist only
  • Class 2: speed limited to 20 mph, pedal assist and throttle
  • Class 3: speed limited to 28 mph, pedal assist only

The same rules that apply to standard bikes apply to Class 1 and 2 e-bikes, but Class 3 e-bikes have additional restrictions: You have to be at least 16 to operate one, and riders of all ages must wear a helmet.

CARB had proposed allowing recipients to use incentives to buy only Class 1 and 2 e-bikes, but participants in the work group meeting made an excellent case for making Class 3 e-bikes eligible. 

Reasons to support Class 3 e-bike purchases include:

  • The speed limitation is somewhat meaningless since people on non-electric bikes can and do ride faster than 20 mph.
  • The higher speed makes it safer for people to mix with car traffic in areas that have inadequate bike infrastructure.
  • The higher speed could be essential for people with longer commutes.

CARB program managers at the meeting indicated that they are open to expanding which bikes qualify and will likely include Class 3 e-bikes, based on the solid support at the work group.

Building equity into a state grant program

The work group included extensive comments and calls to distribute the $10 million in e-bike vouchers equitably. California’s experience with electric vehicle (EV) rebates, which went to buyers who were wealthier and Whiter than the average Californian in the program’s initial year, informed the discussion. EV programs for low-income buyers have failed to serve low-income Californians. Some work group participants voiced a desire to avoid those shortfalls with the e-bike incentives program, stating that equity was a paramount goal. In contrast, others noted that, if the goal is to reduce carbon emissions from car travel, recipients’ income level is less critical than how many car trips the e-bike will replace.

The program is structured with low-income recipients in mind, offering upfront vouchers rather than after-purchase rebates, which don’t help the people who need extra funds to be able to make a purchase. And CARB will limit eligibility to people earning 400% of the federal poverty level or less. However, the program is currently structured as first-come, first-served, which can give an edge to applicants with more connections and resources. Participants at the meeting expressed a strong desire to see CARB do better with the administration of this program, and there was discussion of switching to a needs-based application process.

If CARB moves to a needs-based approach, the program launch may be delayed because it will take longer to put systems into place to facilitate that process. 

At CalBike, we feel that a crucial component of equity in incentive distribution is to leverage community-based organizations to help spread the word and assist their constituents in accessing and completing the application process, as well as choosing and maintaining their e-bikes. CARB currently has a CBO network through its electric vehicle incentives programs, but CalBike will work with the agency to encourage them to add bicycle-specific CBOs specifically to help with this e-bike program.

Eligible e-bike retailers

The work group discussed where incentive recipients should be able to buy e-bikes through the program. Concerns raised included ensuring that local bike shops can get parts from manufacturers to service the bikes bought through the program, even if people purchase them online.

Once the administrator is in place, it will set a process for retailers to apply to participate in the program based on criteria set by CARB. CalBike is following this discussion closely and plans to offer more resources for e-bike retailers soon.

A transparent process

At CalBike, we’ve been getting a lot of questions about the e-bike incentives program, so we created FAQs to answer some of them. We’re also engaging with CARB outside the work group meetings to encourage them to bring more transparency to the launch of the e-bike program. For more information about California’s e-bike incentives program, sign up for our e-bike interest list and view a meeting recording below.

CalBike Endorsement: Vote for Catherine Blakespear for Senate District 38 by November 8th

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Catherine Blakespear has been a steadfast champion of bicycle infrastructure and safe streets as Mayor of Encinitas. She’s an excellent choice for Senate District 38, which encompasses Northern San Diego County and Southern Orange County. 

Blakespear has demonstrated her commitment to bold climate action by tackling some of her region’s largest sources of emissions: transportation, energy, and housing. She is now poised to bring this leadership to Sacramento to urge mode shift in our state’s policies to get more people into biking and walking options by investing in the infrastructure that would make biking a safe and reasonable choice.

In response to CalBike’s Bike the Vote questionnaire, Blakespear’s answers demonstrated her support for prioritizing e-bikes as part of our biking future with the goal that they should be accessible to everyone. We will be fortunate to have a leader from this district whose mission is to improve access to transportation for the people who need it most.”

CalBike is pleased to endorse Catherine Blakespear for Senate District 38. Please vote for Catherine Blakespear by November 8th, 2022. 

Click here to see Catherine Blakespear’s full questionnaire responses.

View all of CalBike’s endorsements and Bike the Vote!

CalBike Endorsement: Vote for Tasha Boerner Horvath for Assembly District 77 by November 8

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Tasha Boerner Horvath has proved herself a strong ally to active transportation in the Assembly. She runs this year in a redrawn district, placing her in AD 77 instead of 76. CalBike endorses her for Assembly District 77.

Boerner Horvath understands the serious climate change impacts on her San Diego County district. As an Encinitas City Councilmember, she helped pass one of the most ambitious climate action plans in San Diego County. In the Assembly, she has championed the Bicycle Safety Stop and other bike-friendly measures. And her personal experience as an avid bike rider means that she legislates from a deep knowledge of the issues facing people who bike in California.

CalBike is pleased to endorse Tasha Boerner Horvath for Assembly District 77. Please vote for Tasha Boerner Horvath by November 8th, 2022. 

View all of CalBike’s endorsements and Bike the Vote!

CalBike Endorsement: Vote for Steve Bennett for Assembly District 37 by November 8

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CalBike is pleased to endorse Steve Bennett for District 37 assemblymember in the November 2022 elections.

Steve Bennett’s platform reads like a bicycle advocate’s dream. He understands the importance of bicycling as a component of sustainable transportation and a socially just society. We endorsed him two years ago, and his record in the Assembly has proved that he’s a true bike champion.

Assembly District 37 stretches along the coast from Ventura to Lompoc, with Santa Barbara right in the middle. Bennett has always been a strong supporter of active transportation a region that has and will continue to see drastic changes due to our climate crisis and the transportation systems that fuel it. As a sitting member on the Ventura County Board of Supervisors, Bennett has the knowledge to put forth new bold ideas, including expanding safe and equitable bike options. For example, in a recent Ventura County Star article citing Bennett’s leadership in developing a 30-mile ‘Rails to Trails’ network across the county, he is quoted saying “The world is changing…we have to reduce carbon emissions with different approaches to our lifestyle.” We couldn’t agree more.

CalBike endorses Steve Bennett for District 37 Assembly Member. Please vote for Steve Bennett by November 8, 2020.

View all of CalBike’s endorsements and Bike the Vote!

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