Bumpy ride for P.E.I. bike rebate program as early details rankle cyclists, some retailers
The P.E.I. authorities’s deliberate bicycle rebate program is getting a bumpy reception from some retailers and cyclists.
The province’s just lately handed budget included $500,000 allotted to offer a $100 rebate to Islanders who buy a bicycle. The province says the rebate is meant to get extra Islanders out of their vehicles and onto bicycles, which is able to improve the uptake of energetic transportation.
Atmosphere Minister Steven Myers has informed the legislature the rebate will probably be supplied to shoppers routinely on the level of sale. However an explainer doc, ready, partly, by authorities employees and circulated to native retailers, states the rebate is not going to be supplied to Islanders who buy used bicycles. A separate template rebate settlement doc for stores additionally states eligible bicycles must have two wheels solely and that the rebate would solely be supplied for bicycles that price between $150 and $2,000.
The doc states the rebate will probably be beginning on Could 20, 2022.
Peter Rukavina, a member of the biking advocacy group Bike Pleasant Communities, mentioned he thought the general aim of the bike rebate program was optimistic. However he mentioned the deal with two-wheeled bicycles raises the likelihood the bike rebate program may exclude Islanders with disabilities or with mobility points.
“I’ve a daughter who’s autistic and her steadiness points imply that she’s by no means actually been capable of trip a two-wheeled bicycle – though we tried,” Rukavina mentioned.
“The last word resolution from her was to discover a three-wheeled bicycle – basically an grownup tricycle. And that has proved transformative for her.”
Rukavina additionally mentioned the shortage of eligibility of used bicycles from the rebate would exclude Islanders who’ve bought a inexpensive bicycle by means of Fb Market or Kijiji.
“We do tough issues like this with (used) vehicles. I do not see why we could not do it in precisely the identical approach,” Rukavina mentioned.
“I believe there can be a wider vary of people that can be served.”
At a look
Listed below are the main points of P.E.I.’s bicycle rebate program:
• $100 – That is the rebated quantity Islanders who purchase a motorcycle will obtain.
• $500,000 – That is the quantity within the 2022 funds allotted to the rebate program.
• Level of sale – The rebate will probably be utilized at sale, that means shoppers is not going to want to use.
• $2,000 – That is the utmost worth of a bicycle that may be eligible for the rebate, in response to paperwork circulated to retailers.
• Two or Three wheels – It stays unclear if three-wheeled bicycles, resembling recumbents or grownup tricycles, will probably be eligible.
Hannah Bell, Opposition critic for setting, power and local weather motion, issued a media statement criticizing the bike rebate program on Could 17.
In it, she applauded the purpose of this system in addition to the choice to supply the rebate at level of sale. However she mentioned the worth flooring of $150 may imply some bicycles for youngsters are ineligible.
Excellent news: bicycle rebate launches Could 20 and is prompt level of buy rebate on after-tax worth (due to collaborating retailers for managing!)
Dangerous information: rebate solely applies to new bicycle purchases higher than $150 – excluding many. #peipoli #notallIslanders https://t.co/pPY3qZFyK4
— Hannah Bell 🇨🇦💚 (@hannahbethbell) May 17, 2022
“They’re stopping household from having the ability to get bikes for his or her children due to the worth flooring,” Bell mentioned in an interview.
“They’re stopping individuals who need to use bikes for inventive means together with mobility. … They’re stopping folks from refurbishing or getting second-hand. It is simply barrier after barrier.”
Not finalized, says Minister
In an interview, Myers mentioned the bicycle rebate program has not but been finalized and has not obtained approval from Treasury Board.
Myers denied that the bikes priced beneath $150 can be excluded from the rebate. He advised a sliding scale would apply however mentioned negotiations with bigger retailers has made finalizing this tough.
“All that is fairly untimely as a result of we’re nonetheless making an attempt to get this system stood up. We do not have a single retailer signed onto it,” Myers informed SaltWire on Could 18.
“No one has signed onto it as a result of we’re understanding these particulars. And now, sadly, we’re negotiating them within the public.”
Myers additionally mentioned grownup tricycles can be eligible for the rebate program.
However he mentioned used bicycles is not going to be eligible for the rebate as a result of the division has no approach of monitoring the sale.
“The very last thing we needed it was the identical bike being offered 40 instances this summer season,” Myers mentioned.
Myers additionally mentioned offering the rebate on the level of sale would imply it might cut back limitations for Islanders, who in any other case wouldn’t submit a receipt and software for the rebate.
In an e-mail, a communications consultant from Myers’ division mentioned the doc circulated to retailers was a draft ready by each provincial employees and Summerhill Group Inc., an organization employed to manage this system.
MacQueen’s not onside
Daniel MacQueen, proprietor of MacQueen’s Bike Store in Charlottetown, mentioned he doesn’t at the moment plan to take part within the rebate program.
Prior to creating his determination, MacQueen had obtained an settlement ready for his enterprise by Summerhill stating the retail outlet can be required to pay out the rebate to the patron on the level of buy. The province would then reimburse MacQueen’s after it submitted gross sales information. The settlement additionally states that Summerhill would must be supplied with an in depth – and up-to-date – stock record of all eligible bicycles.
The settlement states the worth flooring for eligible bikes is $150. It additionally states eligible bicycles should have two wheels and two pedals.
MacQueen mentioned the work to offer the rebate at level of sale locations an administrative burden on retailers.
“I want there was a greater approach – we may simply give them a receipt,” MacQueen mentioned.
“Certain, I need to get folks out driving bikes. And all people’s for getting a deal. However to do what they’re asking me to do for every one? I can not. I gained’t.”
