BLOOMINGTON — The City of Bloomington is partnering with several local bike shops to provide vouchers for low-income residents to purchase an e-bike.
Fifteen vouchers for up to $2,000 each are available for applicants on a first come first serve basis.
The city characterizes low-income residents as people with a household income of 80% of the local area median income or less (which for Monroe County was $106,100 as of 2024) and 60% of the state median income or less (which for Indiana was $95,373 as of 2024.)
Qualified low-income residents must first register for Go Bloomington and Zero In Bloomington, as well as complete a program application.
Residents can prove eligibility by showing proof of benefits from BHA’s Rental Assistance Demonstration Program, SNAP, LIHEAP, or Bloomington’s Workforce Rental Housing Program.
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The city said vouchers can only be used for the purchase of a Class I, II, or III e-bike or electric cargo bike at the participating bike shops:
- Bloomington Bicycles: 4535 E. 3rd Street, Bloomington, IN 47401
- Revolution Bike and Bean: 401 E 10th St, Bloomington, IN 47408
- Bicycle Garage, Inc.: 507 E Kirkwood Ave, Bloomington, IN 47408
Vouchers must be redeemed within 10 days of receiving them and do not cover already purchased e-bikes.
The e-bike would be free under the voucher program if the e-bike is less than $2,000.
If an applicant wants an e-bike priced above $2,000, they would be responsible for the remaining price tag.
The voucher program comes months after the city cut back on the number of e-scooter companies operating in Bloomington.
In September, the Board of Public Works denied a contract renewal with Lime, leaving Bird as the sole remaining provider of electric micro-mobility vehicles.
VeoRide pulled their fleet of micro-mobility vehicles out of the market at the end of 2023.
