Cities, states, and major companies are racing to give people incentives to switch to electric bikes for their work commute or gadding about town — experiments they hope will reduce car traffic and improve people's health.

Why it matters: E-bikes — which give people varying levels of motorized assistance — are environmentally friendly alternatives to cars and trucks. Mass adoption could make a big dent in road congestion and carbon emissions.

Driving the news: The number of e-bike incentive programs nationwide exploded 0ver the last year as the COVID-19 pandemic drove enthusiasm for all things bicycle — e-bikes in particular.

For example: Denver offers rebates of up to $1,700 to residents of certain income levels; Oakland is setting up a lending system in low-income neighborhoods; Worcester, Massachusetts is giving away 100 e-bikes.

The big picture: On the federal level, the proposed E-BIKE Act would grant a 30% tax credit on purchases — but it got axed from the Inflation Reduction Act at the 11th hour.

And there's been record movement at the state level, with five — Colorado, Connecticut, Hawaii, Massachusetts, and Vermont — passing or renewing e-bike incentive programs, per advocacy group PeopleForBikes.

What they're saying: "A lot of states and municipalities are trying to show progress on climate initiatives, and this is an easy and tangible way" to do that, said Ash Lovell, electric bike policy and campaign director at PeopleForBikes.

A small 2020 Denver trial got the ball rolling, Seaward added.

The other side: E-bike disadvantages include higher injury rates than conventional bicycles, limited battery life, and more difficult upkeep.

What's next: California's hotly awaited $10 million e-bike incentive program has been delayed from its planned July 1 start, but its administrator — the California Air Resources Board — has begun looking for an organization to run it.