Free Bikes for Low-Income Residents ($150,000)

Location: Citywide for up to three years.

Cost: $150,000

Committee: Transportation, Streets, and Sidewalks

Short Description: Expand the bike ownership program to allow more Cambridge residents to access a dependable and eco-friendly form of transit. This program provides support for qualifying residents to have their own pedal bikes, e-bikes, cargo bikes, or adaptive bikes. 

Long Description: The goal of this program is to increase bicycle ownership for Cambridge residents who have low incomes. Access to bike ownership can decrease the use of carbon-emitting transportation, increase mobility, and provide transportation independence.

Residents who received prior bicycle purchasing support say that having a bike or e-bike has greatly improved their personal and family mobility, reduced the cost of transportation, and improved wellbeing. This is especially true for residents with a disability. Creating a modified extension of this program would help more residents take advantage of the program.

The City will partner with a local non-profit, such as Cambridge Bike Give Back, to host events to promote access to the program.  

A recipient of an e-bike in the previous bike voucher program.