Try an E-Bike for Free
The Upper Valley E-Bike Lending Library offers a great opportunity to “try before you buy” and allow you to get a feel for how an e-bike might fit into your lifestyle.
The Library is a selection of four e-bikes of assorted styles and retail costs. Since the Library began in 2020, more than a third of the people who have borrowed Library bikes say they plan to buy one of their own.
In 2022, the Library traveled to 14 Upper Valley towns and two workplaces (Hypertherm and Dartmouth Health). While the e-bike is stationed in a particular place, residents from that town (or employees of the workplace) can sign up to borrow one of the e-bikes for 1-3 days. Many of the towns also will hold “Demo Days” at which people can see all four e-bikes and take them for quick spins.
In addition to trying e-bikes through the Library, Vermont residents can get a free e-bike consultation through VBike! VBike has been contracted by Go! Vermont to consult one on one with Vermont households, families, businesses, and even bike shops. They can help you to choose the e-bike, e-cargo bike and/or e-assist system that best fits your needs based on type of terrain and distance you intend to ride, what you want to do with your bike, cargo-hauling needs, and many other considerations.
The 2023 E-Bike Library
The Upper Valley E-Bike Lending Library’s 2023 season planning is in progress! If your business, organization, or town is interested in hosting the traveling e-bike library, please email anna@vitalcommunities.org. The lending library will likely run April – November 2023.
