As of May 2023, electric bikes are being distributed to Berkeley E-Bike Equity Project (BEEP) participants, and we couldn’t be more excited! After months of community engagement and outreach, we received over 600 applicants from interested Berkeley residents. 56 participants were selected via lottery system in March, and now we are busy sending the e-bikes off to their new homes.
During the e-bike assembly process, our staff instructors have been providing e-bike specific training to local youth participating in our internship program. In the future, interns will also assist program participants with quarterly maintenance checks, giving them opportunities to develop essential job readiness skills in customer service and mechanical repair.
After being selected, participants were fitted for a bike and helmet at our shop in Berkeley. They also attended an e-bike safety training class led by a Waterside staff member. More than thirty bikes have been distributed so far, and feedback from participants has been overwhelmingly positive. Hanne, who received her bike earlier in May, sent us a note saying, “The freedom and possibilities unlocked by having an independent mode of transportation are life-changing. I want to ride forever!”
Another participant, Steve, shared in an interview with KCBS that the e-bike will save him money on gas, and now his partner will be less reliant on public transportation. “I just love being on a bike,” he said, “rather than in a gas guzzling car.” Check out photos of our participants and their e-bikes below!
