118 HR 6659 IH: E-Bike Share Act
U.S. House of Representatives
2023-12-07
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EN
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I
118th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 6659
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
December 7, 2023
Ms. Barragán (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.
1.

Short title
This Act may be cited as the “E-Bike Share Act”.
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:
“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.”.