Image credit: Photo 76260062 © Boarding1now/Dreamstime.com

By Mel Rothenburger

ARMCHAIR MAYOR

ROTHENBURGER: New rebate for e-bike purchases is both generous and illogical

Jun 1, 2023 | 4:49 AM

E-BIKE RIDERS get a nice break from the provincial government as of today. Depending on their income, they can receive a rebate on the cost of a new electric bike.

It’s a generous gesture for those thinking about getting in on this active-transportation fad. Those with a net income of $51,131 and more are eligible to receive $350. Anyone who makes $38,951 or up to that higher amount can collect $1,000. And people who make less can get a cool $1,400.

The bike has to cost at least $2,000 and you have to be at least 19 years old.

The rationale for the rebates, says the government, is that e-bikes “provide greater speed, convenience, and accessibility than non-assisted pedal bikes.”

Looped In

LOOPED IN WITH NIKKI OMEN: May 22, 2025

8h ago

One Man's Opinion

COLLINS: Is there any future for Canada Post?

18h ago

SOUND OFF

SOUND OFF: British Columbia, it's time for us to step up

May 21, 2025

I was amused by an assurance that we don’t need to provide a car to the scrap-it program in order to qualify but, in fact, e-bike enthusiasts were, indeed, previously eligible for a rebate if they did scrap a car.

The logic for this new program, however, escapes me, and here’s why. Let’s compare it to the trend toward electric vehicles, or EVs.

Reasons for switching from fossil fuel vehicles are clear. We’re trying to save the planet by ditching the gas guzzlers for a means of transportation that doesn’t pollute. Not to mention that we’ll eventually run out of oil and have to change anyway.

Certainly, electric transportation isn’t a perfect alternative but until we develop something better it’s not a bad option.

The alternative to e-bikes, on the other hand, is the good old-fashioned peddle bike, which burns no energy at all other than what we put into it with our own two legs. E-bikes aren’t purchased to be Earth-friendly, they’re purchased to make it easier to get up hills.

Which is fine, but peddle cyclists are the ones converting to e-bikes, not drivers of fossil-fuel vehicles. They don’t deserve to be compensated for it.

This rebate simply is not logical.

I’m Mel Rothenburger, the Armchair Mayor.

Mel Rothenburger is a regular contributor to CFJC Today, publishes the ArmchairMayor.ca opinion website, and is a recipient of the Jack Webster Foundation Lifetime Achievement Award. He has served as mayor of Kamloops, school board chair and TNRD director, and is a retired newspaper editor. He can be reached at mrothenburger@armchairmayor.ca.

—

Editor’s Note: This opinion piece reflects the views of its author, and does not necessarily represent the views of CFJC Today or Pattison Media.