Paul Bass Photo
Going electric: Mayor Elicker pulls up in a borrowed Logan Prodigy.
Mayor Justin Elicker arrived on two wheels, of course, for an official kick-off to New Haven Bike Month — but for the first time, he did so with an electric assist.
Elicker took his first-ever ride on an electronic (“e”) bike to the southwest corner of the Green for the Tuesday afternoon press conference kick-off.
That was part of the point of the event. In addition to announcing the 30-plus events taking place this month to promote cycling in town (click here to learn about them), Tuesday’s event focused on encouraging more people to try e‑bikes.
New Haven Bike Month co-founder Caroline Tanbee Smith inviting the public to 30+ bike-centered events in May.
E‑bikes start at $1,500 and can run into the thousands. Two new programs will help people buy the powered vehicles: A newly announced loan initiative (starting at $1,000) from the Connex Credit Union (click here for details), and the newly passed Connecticut Clean Air Act (expected to receive the governor’s signature), which will offer $500 rebates to low- and middle-income purchasers of e‑bikes costing up to $3,000.
Elicker, a longtime acoustic-bicycling enthusiast, proclaimed himself pleased with his first plugged-in spin.
“It’s weird,” he said. “All of a sudden you’re like, ‘I’m not working as hard, but I’m going!”
Most e‑bikes (Classes 1 and 2) can travel up to 20 miles per hour just on the electric charge (not counting additional leg power), and may be ridden (within speed limit restrictions) in marked bike lanes, said the parks and rec department’s Martin Torresquintero. He said new-generation Class 3 e‑bikes, which can travel up to 28 miles per hour, are not yet authorized for bike lanes.
John Brehon and Bob Jacobson (at right and left above), who own Devil’s Gear Bike Shop and College Street Cycles respectively, encouraged people to take advantage of the new financial assistance programs to purchase e‑bikes.
Brehon added a warning: Avoid “really cheap ones on the internet. They just end up in the trash.”
The parking authority also announced plans for an electric cargo bike share program and plans to increase the number of EV charging stations around town from 40 to 80.
Greater New Haven Clean Cities Coalition Co-Coordinator Paul Wessel (at right) recognizes Connex COO Carl Casper and Park New Haven Vice-Chair Andrew Orefice for their organization's greenwork.