Four Becomes Two: California Will Now Fund Your Transition From Car to Bike

California wants that ’84 Olds Eighty-Eight gone, stat. In its place, a citizen of limited means can apply for disposal funding and the (partial) means of replacing it with a cleaner car, or opt instead for a transit pass or car-sharing membership. Now, the state Senate has amended earlier legislation to include more “mobility.”

The Clean Cars 4 All Program, administered by the California Air Resources Board, will now fork it over to get you on some sort of bike.

Earlier this month, the upper house passed Senate Bill No. 400 to amend the state’s Health and Safety Code with updated language about green transportation options. That impacts what low-income residents can apply for under the clean car program once their gas-guzzling jalopy disappears from the laneway.

The amendment focuses on the term “mobility option” as listen in the Scrap and Replace program options. Whereas before, low-income residents living in participating districts who meet certain requirements could gain $4,500 towards the purchase of a vehicle that gets either 35 mpg combined or comes with a plug (be it a plug-in hybrid or EV), they could also opt for a non-ownership solution. Transit and ride-sharing, basically.

Now, the updated language means eligible residents who scrap their old vehicle can receive replacement funds or a voucher for “public transit, car sharing, bike sharing, or electric bicycles.”

If they’re in the Bay Area, those options include Ford’s GoBike service or perhaps the purchase of a Ford Super Cruiser, which is an actual electric bike marketed by Ford. Maybe they could look at General Motors’ “ARĪV” e-bike, which is also a thing. This is where we’re headed and will continue doing so, at least until automakers discover it’s not worth the effort.

Program participants will no doubt be dismayed to find there’s no Rambike offered by Fiat Chrysler, but give it time.

[Image: Murilee Martin/TTAC]