$7 million initiative to help residents buy e-bikes
A $7 million grant-funded program is expected to help more than 5,800 Arkansas and Oklahoma residents — with a program focus in the Fort Smith metro, Northwest Arkansas, and the Little Rock region — buy an electric bicycle.
The Arkansas Tri-Region E-Bike Incentive Program is the new voucher initiative. On June 15, the Northwest Arkansas Regional Planning Commission, in partnership with Metroplan in Little Rock and the city of Fort Smith, announced the new program, which will offer vouchers ranging from $700 to $1,200. The money for the program comes from an Environmental Protection Agency Climate Pollution Reduction Grant with administrative support from APTIM.
According to retailer Recreational Equipment Inc., the price range for a good-quality, serviceable e-bike is $1,500 to $2,500, with entry-level e-bikes at about $1,000. High-end e-bikes cost $6,000 or more.
“This program represents an important investment in transportation access and regional collaboration,” said Tim Conklin, executive director of the Northwest Arkansas Regional Planning Commission. “By working together across Arkansas, we’re helping more residents access affordable transportation options while strengthening connections between communities and expanding mobility choices for everyday trips.”
The program will provide vouchers to applicants in Northwest Arkansas, central Arkansas, and the Fort Smith region through a random selection process. Selected applicants can redeem their vouchers at participating bike shops at the time of purchase.
Residents who are at least 18 years old and live in Benton, Crawford, Faulkner, Franklin, Grant, Lonoke, Madison, Perry, Pulaski, Saline, Sebastian, and Washington counties in Arkansas, and Le Flore and Sequoyah counties in Oklahoma are eligible to participate.
Program registration begins at 9 a.m. July 6, and registrants will not need to provide documents to prove eligibility initially. The first selections will take place July 21. Those who are selected will be contacted via email with a link to apply for the program, which will include submitting proof of residency, income qualifications and other details. Additional random selections will be announced later, and the program will continue into next year.
The program will offer two vouchers for the eligible residents. The general resident voucher will be for up to $700 off the purchase of an eligible e-bike from a participating retailer. Those who reside in a household with an income less than or equal to 200% of the federal poverty level are eligible for the income-qualified resident voucher, which can be redeemed for up to $1,200 off the purchase of an eligible e-bike from a participating retailer. Vouchers expire after 60 days. A list of participating retailers will be released in early July.
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