The D.C. Council unanimously approved a bill Tuesday that aims to get fewer cars and more e-bikes on D.C. streets.

The legislation incentivizes residents to purchase e-bikes with a tiered subsidy program based on income, partially reimbursing residents for the cost of the bike. E-bikes, which make it easier to get up hills and generally allow a rider to arrive at their destination less sweaty, have risen in popularity in recent years. Families have downsized from two-car households to one-and-an-e-bike households, and cargo e-bikes can make transporting children or groceries easier. But they’re not cheap; on average, an e-bike can cost between $1,000 to $2,000, while more expensive e-bikes can run upward of $10,000.

Funding for the bill was already included in the Fiscal Year 2024 budget; the bill’s author, Ward 6 councilmember Charles Allen, allocated $500,000 for the incentive program and stipulated that at least half of those dollars go toward e-bikes for residents who qualify for public assistance like SNAP and TANF. Ward 2 councilmember Brooke Pinto had also introduced her own e-bike rebate bill earlier this year, but Allen, who chairs the council’s transportation committee, ultimately came out on top. Despite the bill’s passage today, the final details of the program, like when purchases will be eligible and when residents can apply for the subsidy, will be ironed out by the D.C. Department of Transportation, likely at some point in 2024.

To account for residents who cannot afford the cost of an e-bike upfront and wait for a rebate, Allen’s bill creates a voucher system for low-income purchasers. A resident would purchase an e-bike at the store with a DDOT-issued voucher discounting the price, and DDOT would then reimburse the bike retailer directly. The legislation also allows DDOT to issue grants to bike shops to train more bike mechanics at local shops.

Here’s a breakdown of the subsidies:

For lower-income residents eligible for SNAP and TANF:

• Up to $2,000 for the purchase of a qualifying cargo e-bike
• Up to $1,500 for the purchase of a qualifying e-bike
• Up to $300 for a replacement battery
• Up to $250 for annual maintenance
• Up to $250 for e-bike parts to accommodate riders with disabilities.
• Up to $150 for a bike lock

For all other residents:

• Up to $1,000 for the purchase of a qualifying cargo e-bike
• Up to $750 for the purchase of a qualifying e-bike
• Up to $150 for a replacement battery2
• Up to $125 for e-bike parts to accommodate riders with disabilities
• Up to $25 for annual maintenance
• Up to $75 for a bike lock