Ride2Own is a yearlong pilot that provides a pathway to free e-bike ownership. In addition to accessing a free e-bike, participants receive free safety gear essentials; free maintenance and tune ups; community building and collaborative miles challenges; and the opportunity to inform decision-making for future transit and street infrastructure investments.

Participants will also be able to access a wide range of free programming provided by The Street Trust, including classes on bike safety and community riding events. The educational and community components of R2O will build up participant confidence in using and maintaining electric bikes by creating safe and adaptive learning spaces.

The pilots focus on serving people who would benefit from regular e-bike use but face financial or other constraints to purchasing a bike themselves.

Our aim is to promote a sense of belonging and community. We encourage people of color and women applicants. We recognize the importance of creating inclusive spaces within the biking community, fostering diverse representation, and providing safe environments for traditionally underrepresented communities, especially BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, youth, seniors, differently abled individuals, and residents living with low-incomes.

To ensure the program centers people and place, we established a dedicated Stakeholder Committee to initially advise and support the inaugural Portsmouth pilot (compensate with stipends). Composed of 7 local representatives and transportation experts, this committee has played a key role in the foundational development of the program.

All pilot locations will collect and analyze both qualitative and quantitative data to track our impact and progress of towards achieving our goals and objectives (seen below).

Data methods will range from measuring miles traveled by to hearing stories of unexpected challenges.

By gathering our insight through a mix of methods, we seek to demonstrate the numerous benefits, challenges, and potential of e-bikes to shift traveler demand towards more sustainable and accessible transportation options.

The research findings will serve as a foundation for future e-bike initiatives in the region and across the country.

Ride2Own is designed to generate a core set of metrics for program replication across a wide variety of contexts. By elevating our lessons learned and an applicable method for community-specific adaptation, we can develop future programming that caters to the unique needs and cultural identities of other places.

Our goal of creating an inclusive e-mobility program is rooted in our commitment to fostering a balanced transportation system that prioritizes safety, access, equity, and sustainability. The lessons we learn will be leveraged to influence transportation policy and infrastructure planning across the region, attracting investments and collaborations from both public and private sectors.