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City of New Orleans Launches E-Bike Rebate Program with Focus on Access, Safety and Injury Prevention
$3.8 million grant will help eligible New Orleans residents access e-bikes while providing education on safe riding and injury prevention
NEW ORLEANS, LA (September 28, 2026)-The City of New Orleans today announced the launch of a new E-Bike Rebate Program, designed to help eligible residents access e-bikes while putting safety and injury prevention at the center of the program.
The e-bike rebate program is fully funded by a federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) grant secured by the City’s Office of Sustainability to reduce transportation-related emissions and promote cleaner transportation options. The New Orleans Department of Health & Human Services (NOHHS) is building on that work by incorporating a public health focus, which includes providing safety education and supplies alongside the e-bike rebates. The grant will fully support the program and all e-bike rebates over the next four years, with rebates distributed in phases through a specialized portal and in partnership with participating local bike retailers.
Safety First
The launch of the e-bike rebate program represents an opportunity to take a prevention-focused approach to e-bike access. As more residents use e-bikes for transportation, the Department wants to ensure that riders have the information and skills they need to navigate the road safely and reduce their risk of injury.
“An e-bike can provide someone with a way to get to work, get to school, run errands, or move around their community,” said Jeanie Donovan, NOHD Director of Public Health & Policy under NOHHS. “But e-bike access and safety have to go hand in hand. We want residents who receive these rebates to understand not only how to use their e-bike, but how to use it safely.”
“This program puts our climate goals to work in residents’ everyday lives,” said Meagan Williams, Deputy Chief Administrative Officer of Sustainability and Chief Sustainability Officer. “Making e-bikes more affordable gives our residents another way to get where they need to go, supports physical activity, and can reduce emissions when a bike trip replaces a car trip by reducing greenhouse gas emissions and tailpipe pollution in our neighborhoods. By partnering with local bike retailers and pairing access with safety education, we’re also investing in local businesses and helping residents ride with confidence.
The NOHHS e-bike safety education component will focus on practical information that riders can use before they get on the road, including safe e-bike operation, understanding traffic and roadway conditions, visibility, responsible riding and helmet use, and strategies to help prevent injuries.
The goal is to make safety education an integral and proactive part of e-bike ownership and operation—not something riders encounter only after a crash or injury.
How the E-Bike Rebate Program Works
The first phase of the program will provide 100 rebates, funded entirely by the grant, through a random selection process:
- 50 income-qualified rebates: $1,200 each
- 50 non-income-qualified rebates: $600 each
Before applying for a rebate, all applicants must complete the mandatory online e-bike safety training course. The course provides basic information about safe e-bike operation, roadway awareness, and injury prevention.
If chosen for a rebate, selected participants must attend an in-person e-bike safety training session before they can receive or redeem their rebate. This hands-on training is designed to teach participants how to safely operate their e-bike, recognize potential hazards, and minimize their risk of injury.
If not chosen for an e-bike rebate in this first round, applicants will remain eligible for all future rounds of rebate selections, which are planned to occur every six months through 2028.
Registration Opens September 28th, 2026, at 9:00 am. Visit the webpage and click E-bike Rebate Program for details.
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