11042 replies to this topic

[Victoria Watcher]

Thats what I was looking for. No where does it specify you have to replace a car. It's also not elligible for commercial purposes. I'm going to look into getting my wife one now; 1600 bucks back is half the cost of a decent ebike. 

 

$1600 is only for the poorest households.  for most, it's just $350.

 

the trick is to go to a poor household and get them to "buy" one for you.  or buy one and immediately sell it to you. 

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 13 October 2021 - 08:17 AM.

[sebberry]

Nobody spending 20k on a bike needs a rebate.  Bikes in that price range are well into the discretionary expense category.  Those folks have a car to cart their family and goods around.  

[Ismo07]

Thats what I was looking for. No where does it specify you have to replace a car. It's also not elligible for commercial purposes. I'm going to look into getting my wife one now; 1600 bucks back is half the cost of a decent ebike. 

 

I'm not sure the intent is to reduce vehicle ownership, just vehicle trips...  People will own cars for a long time still but if you can reduce the use of those cars first, that's likely the goal here.

[lanforod]

$1600 is only for the poorest households.  for most, it's just $350.

 

the trick is to go to a poor household and get them to "buy" one for you.  or buy one and immediately sell it to you. 

 

Naw. Go look at the eligibility list. I know I'd qualify for $1600 (helps to have a bigger family).

[spanky123]

$1600 is only for the poorest households.  for most, it's just $350.

 

the trick is to go to a poor household and get them to "buy" one for you.  or buy one and immediately sell it to you. 

 

I guess $1,400 bikes just became $1,600 bikes! Anyone on council have shares in a local bike company!

 

Sorry VW but your chances of getting a cheap bike from your poor friend are pretty low as there will be a willing market with the dealer and the usedvic crowd! I wonder how many rebates you can get by flipping one bike to different people?! It is considered 'used' if the box is never opened?!

[Spy Black]

The rebate program could presumably work well in smaller, safer communities - but it's ridiculous to consider riding an expensive bike (e-bike or otherwise) into the COV downtown core and then walking away from it.

 

It's something only a fool would do.

[A Girl is No one]

The rebate program could presumably work well in smaller, safer communities - but it's ridiculous to consider riding an expensive bike (e-bike or otherwise) into the COV downtown core and then walking away from it.

It's something only a fool would do.

Exactly my thought. E-bike would be awesome to do errands around where I live but can’t trust that it will be there when I come out of the store. I might have to ride to Oak Bay to do groceries but that’s a pain.

[lanforod]

With any e-bike you need a really good chain lock (not u-lock). 

[Spy Black]

With any e-bike you need a really good chain lock (not u-lock). 

I think it's pretty much a given that there's no lock out there that an experienced bike thief (of which the COV apparently has many dozens) can't cut through or pick in only a minute or two.

 

The belief that words like "kryptonite" and "cut proof" actually mean anything is a seriously misplaced belief at best.

 

Bring your expensive bike or e-bike downtown, and walk away from it ... and it will get stolen eventually. To believe (or promote) otherwise is simply foolish.

[spanky123]

^ If you visit Amsterdam or Stockholm or any other City the bikers want to emulate you will find that nobody rides their decent bike to work or downtown. They save the good bike for the weekend or holiday rides.

[Spy Black]

This is what they do down in Seattle.

 

https://kingcounty.g...ke/parking.aspx

[A Girl is No one]

Therefore evokes are useless at replacing cars for day-to-day errands. More tax payer money well spent.

[Sparky]

This is what they do down in Seattle.

https://kingcounty.g...ke/parking.aspx

Wow they have quite the systems for dealing with your bike at transit stations.

Those lease lockers could house a starving student with a sleeping bag.

[Victoria Watcher]

Saanich website:


As expected, the program has proven very popular and we are now nearing the full allocation of funds. Funds at the $1,600 incentive amount are now fully allocated and spaces at the $350 and $800 levels are filling up fast. We encourage everyone to pre-register for the incentive given the limited number of rebates remaining. Pre-approved participants that apply before rebates run out will have their incentives held for them for 30 days.


https://www.saanich....incentives.html

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 17 October 2021 - 06:58 AM.

[todd]

bit insulting if you purchased one before the qualification date.

[Victoria Watcher]

bit insulting if you purchased one before the qualification date.

 

guess that will always be the case with anything.  

[todd]

guess that will always be the case with anything.

You expect a few dollars off but not that much, most big stores do a 30 day or so price protection. Guess you can just buy one and sell it and collect the money you’d be a fool not to

Edited by todd, 18 October 2021 - 07:53 AM.

[Victoria Watcher]

A few letters today saying the bike program is wrong.

https://www.timescol...dard-1.24364664

[Nparker]

Here's a gem from today's TC as well

...When road space is reallocated to bike routes, traffic usually “evaporates” — car volumes drop as bike riding soars...

https://www.timescol...dard-1.24364664

I have seen little evidence of "evaporation" in downtown Victoria since the bike lane bonanza began.

[Victoria Watcher]

if I was a betting person I’d wager that at least some portion of these e-bikes ended up domiciled outside of Saanich, or quite simply into the re-sale market.