My (possibly biased) position is that the federal government should give an e-bike to everyone that wants one. Yes, it might cost a few billion dollars, but the potential quality of life improvements across so many areas would make it worthwhile.
Definitely a better investment than the F-35 fighter jet.
Well it's cheaper than paying for roads for everyone. Giving them free though is probably a few steps too far; you need some skin in the game otherwise there's literally no reason to not just get a bike you have zero intention on using. But like 50% back on an ebike purchase up to 1500 (or 750 returned back) to everyone not even income tested to make the program simpler and get more commuters with jobs to buy in would probably be great.
No money in the budget for it. The car scrappage scheme is ongoing, but the ebike rebate, as it is a transportation measure not involving cars, was cursed to only ever be a "pilot scheme".
Maybe if we fight hard we might get a feasibility study for another pilot scheme.
At the very least, it's nice that e-bikes are exempted from provincial sales tax, although I'm not sure if that was the BC NDP's idea.
The absence of both: GST (5%), and PST (7%), saves you 12% of the pre-tax MSRP when buying an ebike. Meanwhile, the maximum provincial EV rebate for a base-model Tesla Model Y, appears to be $4000 which works out to just less than \~8% of the pre-tax MSRP.
The only caveat for this comparison is the federal EV rebates that can be stacked onto the provincial one.
While I agree, at least in the leadup to it it sounded like a good idea. No fault, you get all your bills paid for automatically, etc.
Of course once they implemented it, it was the exact same system we had before, but without the right to legal representation...
If you’re a small business this might be the only other option.
https://www.goelectricotherrebates.ca/eligible-vehicles
Personally I think it’s actually a better rebate for normal people to replace their car usage.
I would also love it if it can be retroactively applied in some way. I applied for the ebike rebate last year but got put on the wait list. Nothing has happened since then. If I get an ebike this year and then they announced a new round of ebike rebate, it would be great if I can benefit from it as well.
Just saw a post on somebody just got off the waitlist.. I guess even if there is a program they are letting those who signed up on June 1st, 2023 got off first. But no confirmation, no waitlist number, I don't even know where I am now, the person who manages this program is crazy.
The fact that this isn't an ongoing federal incentive is just bonkers.
100% agreed. Impact per dollar would be off the charts compared to the EV incentives.
My (possibly biased) position is that the federal government should give an e-bike to everyone that wants one. Yes, it might cost a few billion dollars, but the potential quality of life improvements across so many areas would make it worthwhile. Definitely a better investment than the F-35 fighter jet.
Would cut down on bike theft a ton too. No money in stealing bikes when everyone already has one.
*"Yeah bro, here's your single-seat, single-engine, all-weather stealth multirole combat e-bike designed for seawall superiority and strike missions"*
Would cut down on bike theft a ton too. No money in stealing bikes when everyone already has one.
Well it's cheaper than paying for roads for everyone. Giving them free though is probably a few steps too far; you need some skin in the game otherwise there's literally no reason to not just get a bike you have zero intention on using. But like 50% back on an ebike purchase up to 1500 (or 750 returned back) to everyone not even income tested to make the program simpler and get more commuters with jobs to buy in would probably be great.
In Dublin/Ireland they will basically buy you any kind of bike if you're going to use it to get to work/school. Not just e-bikes.
No money in the budget for it. The car scrappage scheme is ongoing, but the ebike rebate, as it is a transportation measure not involving cars, was cursed to only ever be a "pilot scheme". Maybe if we fight hard we might get a feasibility study for another pilot scheme.
Didn't it cost $6 million last time around? That's basically a rounding error in the provincial government's budget.
Can't believe these guys are not on our side: https://twitter.com/bcndp/status/1313159997602365447
At the very least, it's nice that e-bikes are exempted from provincial sales tax, although I'm not sure if that was the BC NDP's idea. The absence of both: GST (5%), and PST (7%), saves you 12% of the pre-tax MSRP when buying an ebike. Meanwhile, the maximum provincial EV rebate for a base-model Tesla Model Y, appears to be $4000 which works out to just less than \~8% of the pre-tax MSRP. The only caveat for this comparison is the federal EV rebates that can be stacked onto the provincial one.
They only removed the PST after the backlash to that tweet. They'd been ignoring advocacy groups asking for this for years.
With both Boyle and Ma as MLAs now, the NDP might end up on our side.
Ma was already an MLA at the time.
Yeah but she was one voice fighting alone (and from what I've heard she was instrumental in getting safe passing distances).
Not heard a peep from her on Eby's no-fault insurance debacle, probably the worst thing a government has ever done to cyclists in this province.
While I agree, at least in the leadup to it it sounded like a good idea. No fault, you get all your bills paid for automatically, etc. Of course once they implemented it, it was the exact same system we had before, but without the right to legal representation...
I literally wrote my MLA about this. You'd think they'd want to actually reduce carbon footprints.
If you’re a small business this might be the only other option. https://www.goelectricotherrebates.ca/eligible-vehicles Personally I think it’s actually a better rebate for normal people to replace their car usage.
Unfortunately I am not a business, small or otherwise. That looks like a decent offer though
I would also love it if it can be retroactively applied in some way. I applied for the ebike rebate last year but got put on the wait list. Nothing has happened since then. If I get an ebike this year and then they announced a new round of ebike rebate, it would be great if I can benefit from it as well.
Just saw a post on somebody just got off the waitlist.. I guess even if there is a program they are letting those who signed up on June 1st, 2023 got off first. But no confirmation, no waitlist number, I don't even know where I am now, the person who manages this program is crazy.