FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 7, 2026
Charlottesville E-Bike Grant Program is Back for 2026. Sign-Ups Open Now!
CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA — First quarter sign-ups for Charlottesville’s E-Bike Grant Program are open now through January 31, 2026. Visit the E-Bike Grant Program at Connect Charlottesville, the City’s new community engagement platform, to register.
In 2025, the City of Charlottesville launched a pilot E-Bike Grant Program to support and encourage the use of electric-assisted bicycles instead of motor vehicles. Nearly 100 community members were awarded $1000 vouchers to put toward the purchase of an e-bike at one of three participating local bike shops. This year, the program is back and has been redesigned to better serve a greater number of Charlottesville residents. The new tiered system calibrates voucher amounts based on income level, thus allowing us to support a greater number of vouchers. Learn more about the program details here.
All City of Charlottesville residents, aged 18 or older, are eligible for the program, with some exceptions for City employees and their immediate family members. Fill out the application form to enter the drawing. 36 vouchers will be awarded each quarter, 12 each from the following three categories:
Tier 1: $500 – available to all City residents 18 years of age or older.Tier 2: $1000 – available to all City residents aged 18 years or older and earning less than 80% of area median income (AMI).Tier 3: $1500 – available to all City residents aged 18 years or older that are enrolled in SNAP, WIC, TANF, or Medicaid.
Grantees must be able to provide a valid form of identification and proof of residency to claim their voucher. Recipients can redeem their vouchers at participating local bicycle shops: Endeavor Cycles, Blue Ridge Cyclery, and Blue Wheel Bicycles.
“We are so excited to be able to offer the E-Bike Grant Program again this year,” says Tommy Safranek, City of Charlottesville Bike and Pedestrian Coordinator. “We think the changes made to the program will reduce barriers to e-bikes for a greater number of folks in the community and better meet the goals of the program.”
“The E-Bike Grant Program expands access by aligning with Comprehensive Plan priorities around mobility, affordability, and participation,” said Ose Akinlotan, Long-Range Planning Manager. “Through Connect Charlottesville, residents can stay informed and engaged with programs like this across the City.”
Quarterly entry periods align with the first month of each quarter (January, April, July, and October), with voucher recipients being notified on the first Wednesday of the following month. For the current quarter, interested residents must submit their entries by 5:00 PM EST on January 31, 2026 and the drawing will take place on Wednesday, February 4, 2026.
For more information and to enter the quarterly voucher drawing, visit the Charlottesville E-Bike Grant Program website.
Media Contact:
Tommy Safranek
Bike & Pedestrian Coordinator
City of Charlottesville
434-970-3723
safranekt@charlottesville.gov
