Opinion editor’s note: Strib Voices publishes a mix of guest commentaries online and in print each day. To contribute, click here.
•••
As the chief House author of Minnesota’s e-bike rebate program, I would like to address and counter the criticisms raised in Evan Ramstad’s July 27 column “Note to next governor: Scrap e-bike subsidies.”
The overwhelming response to the program’s launch in 2024 was unprecedented. When more than 14,000 Minnesotans applied within a 20-minute window — crashing the online system in the process — our state’s support of a more affordable alternative mode of transportation rang clearer than a shiny bike bell on a bright summer day. This year, more than 15,000 lower-income and disabled Minnesota taxpayers applied for the newly reformed 2025 e-bike rebate program.
The reality Ramstad overlooks is stark: One in three of us Minnesotans doesn’t drive. Whether due to age, disability, economic circumstances or personal choice, these taxpaying residents deserve the independence and opportunity that come with bike ownership — most notably, a low-maintenance, affordable and easy way to access employment, health care, education and community. Electric-assisted bikes represent more than mobility; they represent freedom.
This popular initiative delivers exceptional return on its investment by simultaneously addressing multiple critical challenges. Electric-assist bicycles reduce congestion on our roads as well as greenhouse gas emissions from our state’s largest-polluting sector. Over the years, our state has invested billions of dollars in transportation infrastructure geared toward drivers and will continue to do so for the foreseeable future. Supporting greener, cleaner and healthier modes of transportation will translate into less need to build, repair and maintain highways and parking lots, and increase support for local businesses in our emerging green economy. This is precisely the kind of strategic thinking Minnesota needs as we work toward our 100% clean energy standard by 2040.
Ramstad’s critique ignores documented state growth. According to the Minnesota State Demographer’s Office, our state has grown to 5,842,388 residents, with 2,350,536 households — including a nearly 7% increase in my own Carver County. This growth isn’t accidental; it reflects Minnesota’s success in creating a quality, forward-thinking environment to attract talented workers and innovative businesses driving our economy forward.
The 2023 legislative session, rightfully called our “second Minnesota Miracle,” demonstrated what’s possible when we think boldly about our shared challenges. From free school meals to paid family leave, from robust investments in our schools and reproductive rights protection to clean energy investments, we proved that pragmatic policies can improve our public health, create opportunity and foster economic security. Minnesota’s e-bike program exemplifies this approach — addressing immediate needs while building toward long-term sustainability.
