Low-income residents in the District of North Vancouver may soon be eligible for a $1,500 incentive to buy an E-bike. DNV is planning to launch an incentive program that will give 100 low income residents a chance to buy an e-bike with tax payers money.
While low to median income residents will be eligible for $500, those deemed as low-income will get $1,500 to buy an e-bike. A notice of assessment would be required as a supporting document for the program application.
A family of four that made $34,836 annually after paying taxes in 2020 would be considered as low-income, according to Stats Canada. District of North Vancouver is following the lead of Saanich, which created an e-bike incentive program last year and gave incentives ranged from $400 to 1,600 to 300 people.
On November 15, 2021, District of North Vancouver council had directed staff to report back on the feasibility of launching a similar incentive program to support the purchase of e-bikes. Staff also recommends widening the types of devices that this program would cover to include E-bikes, E-tricycles, and Electric front-drive Wheelchair attachments.
E-bikes expand the range of where riders can travel, especially in hilly regions like the North Shore, the staff report notes. “They require less effort for a similar distance travelled or speed of travel, which have anecdotally attracted riders who would otherwise not consider using a pedal-bike to get around.”
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Well gee councillors! How cool. A transfer of $100,000 directly to China for using coal fired electricity to manufacture Lithium batteries and the bikes that use them .
Sooo smart. I’m impressed!
Impressed except… you used MY tax money to fuel your obsession. How about raising the money elsewhere or getting together and funding it using YOUR money.? I mean that would be REAL commitment (using YOUR money not MY money) wouldn’t it?
And what would stop people from re-selling these expensive tax payer subsidized e-bikes? Terrible idea!!
Why not add to that $100,000 and give someone the incentive to manufacture the e-bikes on the north shore? Maybe even employ some low income folks. Why must we always look abroad for this stuff?Hmm, let’s think about this. And I agree that these bikes would be a quick easy resell.
Totally ridiculous idea. Your ideology is showing through. Stop this hap-hazard, continued overspending of OUR tax dollars! Studies have shown that when it comes to cars, 78% of the people who bought EVs would have done so WITHOUT Gov subsidies.
We do not want or need you spending our tax dollars like this. How about looking for ways for reduce our sky-rocketing property taxes instead of raising them every year!
In my
In my view my tax dollars would have greater value in reducing bus pass costs.
Louise
Increasing e-bike use saves money on road maintenance, reduces congestion, improves public health, saves traffic enforcement costs, empowers disadvantaged people— this benefits all taxpayers.
Sorry, this doesn’t equate. You want to give a select number of people $100,000 (divided up) somehow selected (we have no idea how or how fair) and we think this is going to save us money? So the highly expensive bike lanes don’t require maintenance? Is there no cost to enforcement for bikes? What about others who want bikes, should taxpayers buy everyone a bike? Nope, this is a complete waste of taxpayer dollars.
“highly expensive bike lanes”???
The Lower Lynn Highway improvements cost $198 million.
Every additional e-bike trip eliminates one vehicle trip. If enough people found a way to afford and get around on e-bikes we wouldn’t need these highway improvements (that always create more congestion in the long run).
Traffic enforcement is needed now for current cyclists, as more motorized e bikes are on the road or sidewalks
It is time for insurance and licensing of this type of vehicle. Even a small fee such as $20,00 a year – we have to pay to use our own parks now.
People complain about traffic, yet, when individuals are incentivized to purchase e-bikes, people still lament. Additionally, missing in this thread is the social impact of increasing bikes which equates to more discussion about green options, more communication about climate change etc. I support the idea and once e-bikes are affordable, then incentives can be withdrawn.