Don’t Miss Out: Colorado’s $450 eBike Tax Credit Slashed in Half for 2026!

Hey folks, Dan Johnson here. If you’ve been eyeing an eBike to cruise Erie’s connected trails or commute to a local school, now’s the time to act. Colorado’s eBike Tax Credit Program is handing out a $450 discount on electric bikes, but it’s getting cut to $225 on January 1, 2026. That means you’ve got until December 31, 2025, to snag the full discount. With eBikes booming across the U.S.—though we’re still catching up to Europe and Asia’s electric mobility craze—communities like Erie are leading the charge with bike-friendly neighborhoods and connected paths. Don’t wait to join the revolution! Here’s what you need to know to save big and ride green.

Why You Need to Act Fast

The Colorado Energy Office reports this program has already helped over 4,520 Coloradans save $5.4 million, making eBikes a go-to for retirees and commuters alike. But state budget woes—a 40% spending spike against just 10% population growth—are putting the squeeze on programs like this. With only $6 million initially allocated (roughly 250 electric vehicle credits’ worth), the clock’s ticking. The easiest way to secure your $450 discount is through CyclErie’s tax credit form—it’s fast, straightforward, and gets you riding pronto. Don’t sleep on this deal!

How to Get Your $450 Discount

The process is simple: buy a qualifying eBike at a participating retailer, show proof of Colorado residency (like a driver’s license or utility bill from the last three months), and get $450 off at checkout. Unhoused folks can use a letter from a nonprofit. Bikes must be new, UL-certified (check for UL 2849, UL 2271, or EN 15194), have a motor under 750 watts, and working pedals—Class 1, 2, 3, or adaptive eBikes all qualify, no price limits. Retailers score a $500 tax credit per sale, so shops are motivated to help. Check the Colorado Energy Office for participating retailers or apply directly via CyclErie’s tax credit form.

eBikes Are Booming—Especially in Erie

The U.S. eBike market is on fire, with retirees and families flocking to these zero-emission rides that cut fuel costs and ease traffic. Erie’s bike-friendly vibe—think connected trails, bikeable schools, and community-focused projects like those on the Town of Erie’s Current Projects page—makes it a perfect hub for this boom. But new laws are coming in 2025, so stay sharp with CyclErie’s guide to Colorado’s eBike regulations to ride legally. eBikes aren’t just a trend—they’re a lifestyle that keeps Erie green and connected.

Act Now to Save and Support Sustainability

This tax credit isn’t just about savings; it’s about building a greener Colorado. eBikes slash emissions, promote health, and make commuting affordable, especially in inclusive programs like this one that cover low-income and unhoused residents. To keep it alive, contact your legislators to advocate for funding, share this post on social media, and explore Erie’s trails with CyclErie’s resources. Don’t miss out—grab your $450 discount by December 31, 2025, via CyclErie’s tax credit form or learn more at the Colorado Energy Office. Let’s keep Erie rolling!

Are you familiar with your Information Security Policy? You probably should be... here's why

In our ever-expanding age of digital transformation, information security and compliance are critical for businesses of all sizes to protect their customers' data, guard against cyberattacks, and remain compliant with regulatory requirements.

SMBs (small and medium-sized businesses) infamously struggle with adopting policies and being prepared to respond to cyber-security incidents when they occur. The apparent logic here is because SMBs usually need more funding to invest in dedicated personnel who can respond to incidents and need access to the same level of technology as larger organizations.

When one stops to think about this for a moment, it's scary to consider that many of the apps or technologies we interact with every week likely fall into the bucket of SMBs with limited ability to make your data their top priority. The purpose of this article is not to scare you away from small businesses or to put any group of companies on blast. It is instead a reminder of the responsibility of all of us, as IT and business professionals, to recognize the data we are handling and ensure we build and configure our systems as securely as possible.

One of the most crucial steps businesses of any size can take will be implementing policies relevant to the organization and capable of being followed. Information Security policies are essential for businesses of all sizes and are generally a foundational step for establishing many other programs. Policies Establish clear guidelines and boundaries and help protect organizations from loss or harm caused by unauthorized access, use, disclosure, modification, or destruction of confidential or sensitive data. A security policy outlines the standards and procedures an organization implements to ensure its data and resources are adequately protected. In addition to protecting the company's physical and digital assets, a security policy will increase customer confidence in the business.

To all my colleagues and professionals reading this; review and update your security policies, make sure they are relevant, and if your company does not have something in place, there is no better time to get started than now.

Let's Normalize NOT Working on Vacation

All of us in the current business world have heard the adage, "I'm never disconnected; my phone is always on." It's to the point where this is a cliche topic, particularly with many of our careers becoming fully remote. The diminishing line between being "at work" and "not at work" has become increasingly and perpetually blurred to the point where it is up to us as #leaders and individual contributors to enforce the #worklifebalance. To be honest, work-life balance is a concept I've struggled with understanding. Like many of you, there's a TON going on in my personal life, a TON going on in my 9-to-5, and a good bit going on in my other business activities. Trying to properly "balance" all of this would be a 4th commitment I'd need to throw into the list. But here is where I'm going with this. It pains me to see my colleagues, peers, direct reports, managers, or just strangers in the airport, unquestionably stressed and 100% engaged in "work" while on "vacation." Now granted, there are times where YOU are the only person who can handle a situation, and addressing it right then is the best move to get your vacation time back on track. Like Tupac said, "It's just the way it is." But here is where you put yourself in the driver's seat to establish the #boundaries for that work-life balance.

• Will this significantly impact your career or company results if you handle it whenever you are back in the office?

• Why can't you delegate this to someone else? (this is a different topic I may address later).

• Are the kids or loved ones going to remember this interruption as you working on vacation? If so, is it worth it?

• Did you remind the person on the other end of the Slack message phone call that you are on vacation or it's after hours? If not, do so. This tidbit of information deserves to be part of the conversation.

• Are you taking this call merely to help someone else out? If so, why? Refer back to the first two bullets in this paragraph.

I could sit here and write many more bullet points and sub-bullet points into this list, but the fact is, before fully engaging in work while you're not supposed to be working, break the habit of instant response. Instead, stop and consider what that quick reply will lead to and weigh how valuable your response will be to the conversation. More often than not, a simple acknowledgment suffices until you're back in the office.