District of Columbia lawmakers consider giving residents as much as $1,200 to buy an electric bike

The District of Columbia city council is considered a proposal to give residents up to $1,200 to buy electric bikes.

Under the bill, applicants would need to provide proof of residency and household income to be eligible for the program, according to local news reports.

Council member Brooke Pinto, a Democrat who proposing the measure, the E-BIKE Act, said the legislation is "aimed at reducing cost-barriers that prevent residents from purchasing an electric bike while supporting small business owners here in DC."

She also said the bill is related the expansion of bike lanes in the the nation's capital.

"As we continue to invest in our protected bike lane network, this legislation is crucial to ensuring as many residents as possible can benefit from this expanded infrastructure," Pinto also said. 

According to the legislation, residents earning 80% or more of the median family income would be eligible for instant rebates of "up to $400 or 30% of the bike's purchase price – whichever is lower  or $500 for cargo electric bicycle models."

Residents with annual earnings below 80% of the median family income in D.C. could receive up to $1,200, or 75% of the price e-bike of the bike.