BANFF – Changes to Banff’s popular e-bike rebate program are rolling out, including the elimination of the budget cap.
The governance and finance committee voted 5-2 to lift the cap in order to eliminate the flood of applications from residents not wanting to miss out on the rebate that was seen in the first two rounds of the program. The decision isn’t final until budget deliberations in January.
“I think that helps take away that Black Friday fever of racing out and buying one online,” said Mayor Corrie DiManno during a recent service review meeting.
“People can make more thoughtful decisions now that they know it’s ongoing. They can plan for it, they can save up for it.”
The Town of Banff offers residents a rebate of up to $750 on the purchase of an e-bike under $5,000.
The program, which is funded by visitor pay parking revenues, led to the purchase of 117 e-bikes this year. The first round of rebates was fully subscribed within 15 days and the second in five days. The total value of rebates issued was $79,110.
Administration also recommended some changes to the value of the rebate amount. The intent is to increase the size of the rebate on e-bikes under $2,000, while reducing the size of the rebate on higher-end e-bikes.
The budget estimates – $40,000 in 2023 and $30,000 in each of 2024 and 2025 based on a best guess of program applicants – would cover rebates for approximately 200 additional e-bike purchases over the next three years.
Michael Hay, the environmental manager for the Town of Banff, said an uncapped budget program, much like the studded tires and solar PV rebates, means no one is penalized or turned away, while acknowledging the flip side of that is there is no budget certainty.
“If we tell people that this rebate will be there when you need it and you don’t have to rush to get it today or tomorrow or two weeks from now, then they will take their time and think about whether they can really afford an e-bike,” he said.
“We have to help protect people from their demons in a way. These rebates are quite popular and I think people sometimes have a hard time refusing a deal. I think we’ve all been guilty of that and giving them some time to think about whether they can really afford a bike will help in terms of that demand.”
Couns. Hugh Pettigrew and Ted Christensen wanted to see the budget cap remain, fearing the number of applications could well exceed the amount of funds they want to see go toward this program.
They both also wanted consideration of a random lottery as a fair way of dealing with the popularity of the rebate, but there was no appetite for that from other members of council.
“I have to speak against the idea of not having a cap, or a lottery. We’re advertising the fact to come buy your e-bike,” Christensen said.
Coun. Barb Pelham said she applauded the program for getting money into the community, noting 40 bicycles were purchased at local stores.
“Averaging that out, I think that’s somewhere in the neighbourhood of $124,000,” she said. “That’s really amazing to keep that money in the community. I think that this is an added benefit.”
A move by Pelham to get rid of the one rebate per household clause was also narrowly supported on a 4-3 vote, with councillors Christensen, Pettigrew and Kaylee Ram in opposition.
“They work different shifts and if one has an e-bike it seems very limiting,” Pelham said.
“We want this program to succeed in reducing our resident vehicles coming off the road and I would like to see it open up a little bit more.”
If given final approval, the e-bike rebate program would roll out for applications soon after the 2023 budget is approved in January.
In neighbouring Canmore, a $50,000 e-bike incentive program was added to the Town of Canmore's affordable services program for 2024 rather than being split in half for 2023 and 2024, with funding coming from the sustainability reserve.
Town CAO Sally Caudill said it was necessary due to the sustainability department having a full workload of projects for the coming year.
“It’s a department of two people. … It’s unfortunate that this needs to wait a year, but from a workload capacity we just don’t have it in 2023. It’s a small, but mighty department with a lot on the go,” she said.
