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Upper Valley E-Bike Lending Library

Would an e-bike make your life easier? Find out for free!

Local Motion’s Upper Valley E-bike Lending Library will be in Lebanon from July 4th to July 24th. Borrowers can check out an e-bike from Lebanon for 60-minute slots or overnight. Find out how these bikes can replace car trips and transform your daily transportation needs!

The fleet includes a variety of bikes at different price points, including a cargo bike with a rear rack and several standard bikes, all with an electric assist that helps riders get around with less effort and scale hills that previously seemed impossible.

E-bikes are a transportation option that is becoming more familiar and necessary. This program aims to introduce Upper Valley residents to how e-bikes can be incorporated into everyday life. From commuting to work to picking up groceries and carrying kids to school, e-bikes provide an extra boost of energy that makes miles feel shorter and cargo feel lighter.

The safety of customers and staff is our top priority, so Local Motion and Upper Valley Lending Library volunteers are adhering to all COVID-19 related government safety regulations and recommendations. The bikes are cleaned and disinfected between users, and masks for staff and customers are required at pick-up. Upon pickup, borrowers will receive an orientation about proper e-bike use and etiquette.

Details and Registration
Please review the following information to learn more about the e-bike lending program.

• Dates: July 4-24 2021.
• Pick-up location: Pat Walsh Park at 158 Bank Street Extension, Lebanon, NH. Note: bikes must be ridden from the park or transported in a vehicle. Bike racks will not work with them.
• Loans:
  1. Multi-day loan: Sunday-Monday / Tuesday-Wednesday / Thursday-Friday.
  2. Demo day, 60-minute loan: Saturdays
• Bikes: There are four different e-bike models available. Please note the rider height recommendations.
• Reservations: Reservations are required. The system opens for Lebanon on June 18th. Please note that you may make multiple reservations to try each model. Slots fill quickly! To reserve an e-bike, visit the Upper Valley E-Bike Lending Library.
• Questions: If you have questions about this program, please contact Rebecca Owens at Rebecca.Owens@LebanonNH.gov or 603-442-6138.

Additional information
Here are some additional facts and information including where these types of bikes are allowed in Lebanon.

• The Local Motion program is generously supported by volunteers in the Upper Valley region. In Lebanon, the loan program is a collaboration between the City’s Planning & Development Department and the Recreation, Arts and Parks Department, with various volunteers from the Lebanon Pedestrian and Bicyclist Advisory Committee, UV E-Bike Initiative, Sustainable Lebanon, Hypertherm, Lebanon Energy Advisory Committee, and Friends of the Northern Rail Trail.
• Did you know? The Lebanon Police Department utilizes e-bikes! Several local businesses also rent them out.
• The variety and price of e-bikes continue to improve. Program participants will learn about local discounts and rebates on the purchase of e-bikes.
• Charging e-bikes is easy—you can plug the bike directly into an outlet or remove the battery to charge it indoors.
• E-bikes offer an affordable and clean alternative to vehicles and improve biking accessibility for those with limited mobility—or challenging hills!
• The bikes are Class 1 and Class 2 types. The reservations are for adults only. These bikes are allowed on the rail trails, with adherence to normal etiquette (i.e., do not bike faster than on a normal bike, slow when near other trail users, practice visibility and heads-up warnings, etc.). The bikes may also be used on roadways when the user is comfortable with such riding and where there are appropriate facilities; no bikes of any type are allowed on sidewalks, the Mall, or Colburn Park in Lebanon. Learn more about Permitted E-Bike Use in Lebanon.

Reprinted from City of Lebanon – Lebanon Planning & Development