Americans can win $1,300 in free cash in a “pollution” lottery – but there are limited spots and 2 entry criteria

AMERICANS can get thousands of dollars in discounts when purchasing electric bikes.

The latest city to join the trend is offering $1,300 to prospective e-bike riders.

3

3

Residents of Salt Lake City, Utah, can apply for money from a new program available for just a few days.

The goal is to help reduce air pollution by getting people out of their cars and onto a more sustainable form of transportation.

“This is a huge step forward, not just for air quality, but for a lot of good reasons,” Mayor Erin Mendenhall said in a Press conference. “This helps us reduce traffic, especially on trips of five miles or less that most of us make most days of the week.”

The city will distribute between $300 and $1,300 to residents based on their income and the type of bike they want to buy.

Lucky cyclists will be chosen at random from the applicants.

All entries must be submitted by July 16 at 11:59 p.m.

It’s unclear how many people will be approved.

HOW TO APPLY

As the prizes will be distributed by draw, it doesn’t matter when you register, as long as you meet the deadline.

Applicants must be over 18 years of age and residents of Salt Lake City.

Anyone who works in the city but lives outside its borders is out of luck.

Each individual can submit one application, although the city will accept two applications per household.

There are three levels of discounts – low income, moderate income and standard.

The standard discount is $300 for most e-bikes.

Meanwhile, the moderate income discount – which is for residents who earn between 60% and 80% of the area median income – is $500.

The low-income discount for those earning less than 60% of the area median income is $1,000.

Those looking for cargo and utility bikes can get even more money – up to $1,300.

This is a significant increase, as many e-bikes cost less than $2,000.

More details and the application portal are available online.

Electric bicycle boom

Electric bicycles have become a popular way to get around in many American cities.

E-bikes typically require pedaling, unlike a motorcycle or moped.

While some use them for leisure, others see them as a commuting tool.

Because they don’t rely on gasoline and reduce the need for gas-guzzling cars, they were considered a climate solution.

They have become especially popular in places like New York City, which has launched thousands of shared electric bikes.

Occasional accidents involving electric bicycles have sparked controversy in some places, but that hasn’t stopped governments from offering incentives to get cars off the roads in a bid to increase safety and urban vitality while reducing pollution and congestion.

Proponents of electric bikes also point out that they are significantly cheaper than cars, making them particularly attractive to low-income urban dwellers.

Opponents cite concerns about speed and the risk of lithium ion battery fires.

BIKE BONANCE

Salt Lake City isn’t the first to experiment with an e-bike discount.

City officials told the local ABC affiliate that a similar program in Minneapolis inspired the lottery format.

The Minnesota city’s bike discount was so popular that the app’s portal crashed.

The city later reopened the system, but it was quickly closed again after 14,000 applications were processed in just 18 minutes.

In Atlanta, Georgia, a similar lottery-based program is giving some residents up to $2,000.

Other green government programs are promoting rebates for solar installations.

If a car is faster, you can get an electric vehicle tax credit from the federal government.