Cincinnati is launching an interest-free, 12-month financing program for electric bicycles.
The city is partnering with Garage OTR in the Over-the-Rhine neighborhood to make e-bikes more accessible to residents seeking alternative transportation as gas and car repair costs rise.
The city announced the pilot on May 11, funded by a $50,000 grant from the Bloomberg Center for Public Innovation Lab directly to Garage OTR. A $1,200 e-bike would cost roughly $100 a month under the program, comparable, officials say, to what many residents already spend on gas.
Gas prices in Hamilton County averaged $4.699 per gallon, according to AAA.
Joshua Pine, director of Cincinnati’s Innovation Lab, said the pilot program will explore whether green financing solutions can help increase adoption for more sustainable and affordable modes of transportation. He added that multiple residents his team spoke with needed alternative ways to get around town.
“One person was explaining that their car broke down and the cost for repair was outside of their budget,” Pine said. “And so they are looking for alternative options.”
The program offers financing on Class 1 and Class 2 e-bikes, which top out near 28 mph with electric-assist pedaling. Class 2 models also include a throttle, a feature Pine said is especially practical on Cincinnati’s hilly streets.
“One of our core focuses, when it comes to building vibrant neighborhoods, is ensuring residents of all walks of life are able to access the amenities around them,” said Mayor Aftab Pureval. “Real, affordable, multi-modal transportation options are a necessary part of that. This e-bike pilot is yet another investment in the kind of connectivity our residents rightfully expect.”
The pilot program will be available for City of Cincinnati residents who are at least 18 years old. Pine was careful to frame e-bikes as one tool, not a wholesale replacement for cars.
“I think an e-bike is not going to necessarily replace every trip in every situation, in every season,” he said. “I see it as being one tool in someone’s tool belt.”
The program aligns with the city’s Green Cincinnati Plan, which targets a 50% reduction in carbon emissions by 2030. Transportation accounts for roughly 30% of local emissions, according to the city’s Office of Environment and Sustainability. The city has reached a 39% reduction with four years remaining, said Ollie Kroner, director of the Green Cincinnati Plan and sustainability management.
On Earth Day this year, the Cincinnati Metro bus system announced it would add 13 electric buses to its fleet by summer’s end as part of the Green Cincinnati Plan.
The city selected Garage OTR based on its track record and in-house repair capabilities. The shop has operated for 18 years and services about 12 brands, offering a free first tune-up with every purchase.
“By expanding access to electric bikes, this initiative gives Cincinnati residents a more flexible and sustainable path to transportation independence,” said Garage OTR owner Shawn Jenkins.
The program draws on similar efforts elsewhere. Denver ran a smaller initiative offering $500 off e-bikes to roughly 100 participants, an effort Pine called a success. Cincinnati’s version removes interest from the financing entirely, using the grant as a subsidy.
Pine said a successful pilot could lead to the program expanding to multiple bike shops across the city.
To mark the start of the initiative, Garage OTR is hosting an open house Friday, May 15, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at 10 E. Central Pkwy. for the general public to stop by on their lunch break, enjoy complimentary pizza and test ride e-bike models.