[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 6659 Introduced in House (IH)]
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118th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 6659
To amend title 23, United States Code, to direct the Secretary of
Transportation to establish a grant program to facilitate electric
bicycle sharing services for disadvantaged communities.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
December 7, 2023
Ms. Barragan (for herself, Mr. Grijalva, Ms. Bonamici, Mr. Blumenauer,
Ms. Titus, Mr. Thompson of California, Ms. Moore of Wisconsin, Ms.
Tlaib, Ms. Norton, Ms. Lee of California, and Mr. Cleaver) introduced
the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on
Transportation and Infrastructure
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend title 23, United States Code, to direct the Secretary of
Transportation to establish a grant program to facilitate electric
bicycle sharing services for disadvantaged communities.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``E-Bike Share Act''.
SEC. 2. ELECTRIC BICYCLE SHARING SERVICE GRANT PROGRAM.
(a) In General.--Chapter 1 of title 23, United States Code, is
amended by inserting after section 154 the following:
``Sec. 155. Electric bicycle sharing service grant program
``(a) Establishment.--Not later than 1 year after the date of
enactment of this section, the Secretary of Transportation shall carry
out a program to award, on a competitive basis, grants to facilitate
electric bicycle sharing services operating in disadvantaged
communities.
``(b) Eligible Entities.--The Secretary may award a grant under
this section to the following entities:
``(1) A State or local government.
``(2) A metropolitan planning organization.
``(3) A transportation authority of a State or local
government.
``(4) A nonprofit organization, a public institution of
higher education, a public housing agency of a State or local
government, or a parks and recreation department of a State or
local government that has entered into an agreement with an
entity described in paragraphs (1) through (3) under which the
entity agrees to host an electric bicycle sharing service
within the property or jurisdiction of such entity.
``(c) Applications.--To be eligible to receive a grant under this
section, an entity specified in subsection (b) shall submit to the
Secretary an application in such form, at such time, and containing
such information as the Secretary considers appropriate.
``(d) Criteria for Grant Awards.--In awarding grants under this
section, the Secretary shall consider the following criteria:
``(1) The capacity of an applicant to operate a proposed
electric bicycle sharing service.
``(2) Whether such service would address--
``(A) the infrastructure needs on the property
where such service will be operated; and
``(B) the transportation needs of the community
surrounding such service.
``(3) Whether the main transportation routes a resident
would use such service for are safe for cyclists, or will be
accompanied by improvements in roadway design or complete
streets that improve cyclist safety.
``(4) Whether the applicant has developed a culturally
competent community engagement and education plan for outreach
regarding such proposed service.
``(5) The economic and operational sustainability of such
service.
``(6) Whether the applicant proposes to purchase electric
bicycles that--
``(A) with respect to final assembly, occurred at a
location in the United States; and
``(B) are powered by battery cells or battery packs
manufactured in the United States.
``(7) Other criteria as determined by the Secretary.
``(e) Permitted Grant Use.--
``(1) In general.--A recipient of a grant awarded under
this section may only use funds provided under such grant to
facilitate an electric bicycle sharing service operated in a
disadvantaged community for the following uses:
``(A) The purchase of electric bicycles that are
not more than 2 years old.
``(B) The purchase, installation, and maintenance
of electric bicycle charging infrastructure, including
related solar or battery storage and the
electrification of existing bike share stations.
``(C) Community education and outreach with respect
to such service.
``(D) Incentives for residents to use such service,
including subsidized memberships.
``(E) Maintenance, repairs, and other costs
associated with operating such service.
``(F) Monitoring, data collection, and evaluation
with respect to such service.
``(G) Technical assistance relating to the
establishment, operation, and evaluation of such
service.
``(2) Minimum standards for purchased electric bicycles.--
The Secretary shall establish minimum standards relating to
functionality, safety, and range for electric bicycles eligible
to be purchased under paragraph (1)(A).
``(f) Grant Limitations.--
``(1) Availability.--Grant funds awarded under this section
shall be available to the recipient of such funds for
obligation or expenditure during the 5-year period beginning on
the date on which such funds are awarded.
``(2) Maximum amount.--A grant under this section may not
be in an amount that exceeds $5,000,000.
``(3) Reports.--As a condition of receiving a grant under
this section, a grant recipient shall submit to the Secretary,
before the end of each fiscal year during which the recipient
receives grant amounts, a report that--
``(A) describes the activities carried out with
such amounts; and
``(B) includes data on--
``(i) the operating and capital costs for
the electric bicycle sharing service
facilitated with such amounts;
``(ii) the revenue generated by such
service;
``(iii) the daily averages of individual
bookings and hours of electric bicycle use for
such service;
``(iv) the number of active users of such
service;
``(v) the distance traveled by the active
users of such service;
``(vi) the reduction of greenhouse gas
emissions and criteria air pollutants, and the
self-reported health benefits from riders; and
``(vii) the results of a survey of
customers of such service that provides
information on customer preferences,
destinations, and other information the
Secretary determines appropriate.
``(g) Definition.--In this section:
``(1) Class 1 electric bicycle.--The term `class 1 electric
bicycle' means a two- or three-wheeled vehicle that is--
``(A) equipped with an electric motor that provides
assistance only when the rider is pedaling;
``(B) not capable of providing assistance when the
speed of the vehicle exceeds 20 miles per hour; and
``(C) not a class 3 electric bicycle.
``(2) Class 2 electric bicycle.--The term `class 2 electric
bicycle' means a two-wheeled vehicle equipped with an electric
motor that--
``(A) may be used to propel the vehicle without the
need of any additional assistance; and
``(B) is not capable of providing assistance when
the speed of the vehicle exceeds 20 miles per hour.
``(3) Class 3 electric bicycle.--The term `class 3 electric
bicycle' means a two-wheeled vehicle equipped with an electric
motor that--
``(A) provides assistance only when the rider is
pedaling; and
``(B) is not capable of providing assistance when
the speed of the vehicle exceeds 28 miles per hour.
``(4) Disadvantaged community.--The term `disadvantaged
community' means a community identified as disadvantaged under
the Climate and Economic Justice Screening Tool published by
the Council on Environmental Quality of the Executive Office of
the President.
``(5) Electric bicycle.--
``(A) In general.-- The term `electric bicycle'
means a two-wheeled vehicle--
``(i) that is a class 1 electric bicycle, a
class 2 electric bicycle, or a class 3 electric
bicycle; and
``(ii) that is a vehicle equipped with--
``(I) pedals capable of propelling
such vehicle;
``(II) a saddle or seat for the
rider; and
``(III) an electric motor of less
than 750 watts which is capable of
propelling such vehicle.
``(B) Limitation based on a acquisition cost.--The
term `electric bicycle' shall not include any vehicle
if the aggregate amount paid for the acquisition of
such vehicle exceeds $5,000.
``(6) Electric bicycle charging infrastructure.--The term
`electric bicycle charging infrastructure'--
``(A) means any property, other than a building or
the structural components thereof, that is--
``(i) used to charge electric bicycles;
``(ii) present at the location where such
bicycles are charged; and
``(iii) available for use by members of the
general public; and
``(B) includes any utility service connection, or
utility panel upgrade for solar or battery storage,
that is required for the charging of electric bicycles.
``(7) Electric bicycle sharing service.--The term `electric
bicycle sharing service' means a service that allows any of the
following:
``(A) An individual to apply for a membership that
pre-approves the individual to rent electric bicycles
from such service, including for short periods of time.
``(B) An individual to submit payment information
for an electric bicycle rental at the point of service
prior to riding.
``(8) Final assembly.--The term `final assembly' means the
process by which a manufacturer produces a new electric bicycle
at, or through the use of, a plant, factory, or other place
from which the bicycle is delivered to a dealer or importer
with all component parts necessary for the mechanical and
electrical operation of the bicycle included with the bicycle,
whether or not the component parts are permanently installed in
or on the bicycle.
``(h) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be
appropriated to carry out this section $100,000,000 for each of fiscal
years 2024 through 2033.''.
(b) Clerical Amendment.--The analysis for chapter 1 of title 23,
United States Code, is amended by inserting after the item relating to
section 154 the following:
``155. Electric bicycle sharing service grant program.''.
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