e-bikes – Enviro Updates

Op-Ed: E-bikes are not the problem. Here’s what is

Eris Weaver (Sonoma County Bicycle Coalition), PRESS DEMOCRAT

Electric bikes allow riders to travel farther with less effort, which is great for commuters who want to arrive at work without dripping with sweat. They allow folks with declining strength or fitness to continue cycling. Research has also shown that folks with e-bikes ride more often than those with conventional bikes.

As more people ride e-bikes and similar devices, injuries have increased. Since many of these devices are capable of faster speeds, the severity of injuries has also increased.

To put this in perspective: last year about 7,000 injuries were associated with e-bikes, e-scooters, and other devices nationwide. In the same year, 2.5 million people were injured in motor vehicle crashes. So why all the ruckus about e-bikes?

Healdsburg council OKs clean energy funds for e-bike rebates, charging discounts for low-income residents

February 4, 2026

Amie Windsor, PRESS DEMOCRAT

Qualifying low-income Healdsburg residents now have a new suite of city rebates meant to make electric vehicles and e-bikes more affordable and accessible.

Council members on Monday, Feb. 2, authorized tapping into a pool of funds collected annually through a clean energy program run by the state to expand three current EV-based programs for residents enrolled in the city’s CARE initiative, which offers electricity-bill discounts for low income households.

The new incentives include two $1,000 rebate for e-bikes, 50% off the fee at city-owned chargers and a $4,000 rebate for installing an at-home EV charger.

The council also endorsed a tentative rebate for electric vehicles that could offer up to $5,000 back. The city’s hope is to spur greater use of the programs, which have drawn scant participation since Healdsburg offered its original EV incentive seven years ago.

“At the end of the day it is about affordability,” Council member David Hagele said. “We need to be able to help people buy the cars. We’re really trying to move the needle.”

Climate Change & Energy, Transportatione-bikes, EV charging stations