Low-income residents can apply for E-bike lottery

Eligible individuals and households can apply by March 8 for new program, which will include maintenance, helmet, locks, and training for up to 50 households.

Low income Berkeley residents – such as a family of four making less than $106,000 annually or an individual making less than $74,200 – can apply for a lottery to get an electric bike for long-term use as part of a City-funded program.

The 50 selected households – who can also qualify if they participate in SNAP, PG&E CARE, or Medicaid – would pay a $100 refundable deposit and get an electric bike, helmet, bicycle locks, lights, and training on safe riding.

Those households will also receive free check-ups and maintenance for at least a year from Waterside Workshops, a nonprofit partner with GRID Alternatives and the City of Berkeley as part of the Berkeley E-Bike Equity Project.

Anyone in Berkeley can use electric bikes at a lower cost through shared bike and scooter companies. These tools also allow residents to tie into the city’s bike boulevards, a network of lower-traffic, calmed roads designed to enhance safety and convenience for those on scooters and bikes.  

Eligible residents can apply online by March 8 to enter the e-bike lottery.

Resident eligibility requirements for program

Residents 18 years or older can apply and be entered into a lottery for the e-bikes, which will be delivered from April through June.

The program prioritizes applicants who earn less than 80% of the Area Median Income, as defined by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. The size of the household affects the income limit.

Households can also qualify by participating in a range of public programs such as:

- PG&E California Alternate Rates for Energy Program (CARE)

- CalFresh Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)

- Supplemental Security Income/State Supplementary Payment (SSI/SSP)

Find more income eligibility information on the Berkeley E-Bike Equity Project application.

Interested applicants can access computers at any of Berkeley’s public library branches. For application assistance, contact Waterside Workshops at (510) 644-2577, or visit in person at 84 Bolivar Drive Tuesday – Sunday, noon – 6:00 pm.

Turn car trips into bike trips

Electric bikes, or e-bikes, are faster and more convenient than traditional non-electric bikes and are gaining popularity in our bike-friendly Bay Area climate. E-bikes can help:

- provide a boost on hills, long commutes, and recreational rides
- carry cargo, including young children, over long distances
- save money on gas and public transportation when commuting
- improve mental and physical health, as a form of exercise or recreation
- reduce the greenhouse gas emissions from fossil fuel vehicles, the largest driver of climate change in Berkeley and beyond.

Learn more about e-bikes at an upcoming webinar.

Climate Equity Pilot supports access to clean transportation and building upgrades

The Berkeley E-Bike Equity Project is funded by the City of Berkeley’s Climate Equity Pilot Fund, a pool of money authorized by the City Council to provide benefits to – and elevate the voices of – low income and historically marginalized communities, the people most impacted by climate change.

As part of the E-Bike Equity Project funding, Waterside Workshops is also developing a new e-bike curriculum for its youth bicycle mechanics education program.

The City’s Climate Equity Pilot also funds electrification upgrades in buildings and access to resilience measures for income-qualified residents.

Use the online application to apply by March 8 for a chance to receive an e-bike to start your fun, healthy, and emission-free ride.

Links

- Berkeley E-Bike Equity Project Online Application

- E-Bike Webinars & Events (Ride & Drive Clean)

- Electric Bicycle or Scooter Share (City of Berkeley)

- Bike Boulevards (City of Berkeley)

- Waterside Workshops

- GRID Alternatives

- Income Guidelines by Region (U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development)

Federal grants, loans available to those affected by January storms

Berkeley homeowners, renters, and businesses can apply for federal funding to help pay for essential repairs or serious disaster-related needs resulting from the January storms that were not covered by insurance. Apply by phone, online, using an app, or in person. Serious disaster-related needs include medical and dental expenses, transportation, childcare, and moving and storage expenses.

These FEMA grants apply to those eligible Berkeleyans who had storm-related property damage between Dec. 31, 2022 to Jan. 30, 2023. Those who apply will be considered for two types of grants:

- up to $37,900 for property damages to a primary residence.
- up to $37,900 for other needs, such as a hotel stay while displaced, funds to replace damaged items, and increases to childcare or medical expenses during the disaster.

Read more at berkeleyca.gov.

Artists, festivals, arts organizations invited to apply for grants by March 2023

Artists, festivals, and arts organizations can apply for one-time grants of up to $4,000, $7,000, and $10,000, respectively, and use one of our webinars to help answer any questions.

The grants support individual artists creating new work, festivals creating an event that’s open to the public and has a free component, or arts organizations needing support for ongoing programming.

The separate webinars for each type of grant will cover guidelines, eligibility, and how to apply on the Submittable site, which requires you to create an account. You can also learn more about the grants on the artist,festival, or arts organization application portals.

Coordinated by our Civic Arts Program, these grants support a culturally vibrant and diverse arts ecosystem within the City of Berkeley by funding artists, festivals, and arts organizations.

Read more at berkeleyca.gov.

Plan ahead for summer overnight camps for families, youth, and adults

Escape to the Sierra Nevada mountains with the City of Berkeley this summer: we have overnight camps for youth, families, and seniors.

You can swim in a lake, hike in the forest, enjoy meals cooked for you, or let your children explore the wonders of the High Sierra with camp counselors. The cost is low. The reward is high.

When you join us with family and friends at either Echo Lake (near South Lake Tahoe) or Tuolumne Camp (near Yosemite), you can participate in traditions shared by generations of Berkeleyans or create new ones of your own.

Scholarships are available to Berkeley residents for 50% to 100% of the cost. Use the online registration portal to view detailed information about sessions and prices.

Read more at berkeleyca.gov.

More news from the City of Berkeley

- Volunteers needed at senior centers, December 30, 2022

We're hiring! Featured jobs:

- Deputy Director of Finance, closes March 3, 2023

- Librarian I, closes March 10, 2023

- Mail Services Aide, closes February 27, 2023

- Medical Director - Hourly/Non-benefited, closes March 6, 2023

- Principal Planner, closing March 20, 2023

See all open positions or learn more at berkeleyca.gov/jobs.

Upcoming meetings

City Council

- February 21, 6:00pm Worksession

Boards & Commissions

- February 16, 2:30pm: 2x2 Committee
- February 16, 4:30pm: Sugar-Sweetened Beverage Product Panel of Experts
- February 16, 6:00pm: Fair Campaign Practices Commission
- February 16, 6:00pm: Open Government Commission
- February 16, 7:00pm: Transportation and Infrastructure Commission
- February 16, 7:00pm: Design Review Committee
- February 22, 6:00pm: Civic Arts Commission
- February 22, 6:00pm: Environment and Climate Commission
- February 23, 7:00pm: Zoning Adjustments Board

See details for upcoming boards and commission meetings.