How Colorado's eBike Tax Credit is Screwing Over Small Bike Shops in Colorado

[@manchesterexplorer8519]

The average consumers are purchasing cheap Amazon E-Bikes in droves as average joe doesn't care about quality as they're not racing time trials. They just want an e-bike to easily fly through a city to commute or to use on the local railtrails. Cheap E-bikes are taking over , this is also a huge reason as to why the cycling industry is in shables . It's hard to compete with Amazon selling $600 -$1500 E-bikes.

[@Wade970]

I wish I could get a tax credit for commuting to work on my non-e-bike. I ride to work 90% of the time, and I bought a bike specifically for that reason. But it’s not an e-bike, the only electronic parts are my bike computer and my lights which I use on all my bikes. Definitely need to support your local bike shop.

[@MikeMassey-fi5of]

Looks like it’s through sales tax which you should be filing monthly, so you don’t wait til year end to get your money

[@MartyUlrich]

It's when I file income tax, not sales tax

[@hans747]

Thanks for the tip at the end about how to support your local shop through this.

[@lawnmowerman25]

What about adding a setup fee onto your bikes to offset the loss? What about making your profits based on accessories? Helmets? Gloves? Pumps? Etc?

[@MartyUlrich]

Yes of course I do that too with other ways to make money. I still sell eBikes, but anyone looking for that tax credit can't buy directly from me.

[@skateinspace]

funny how you got to pay up when you want to be eco friendly in a blue state

[@jimbo4203]

They just want money

[@solaradam7470]

Big government and big business in it together. America fascism. Stay strong brother.

[@Blueskycycles]

Same here man. Let’s get together and chat more about it. I took in some rebates that the program refused to paid me.

[@MartyUlrich]

You mean the CEO rebate program? I had a little trouble with that - they are just very picky about how you produce an invoice for them. Hit me up - we'll talk sometime. [e-mail]

[@daveclark8788]

Have you contacted your State Representative-Senator or Assembly member?? If it's me I'm all over them with the "I'm a small business owner" argument, and Im attempting to convince them of the need to modify it to an inclusive program that doesn't call for businesses to finance the rebate for a year. Hard to imagine state government officials fighting that.

[@BryanJohnson81]

Good ole polis🙄

[@brockjennings]

E-bikes are the Ozempic of recreational cycling. It is simply just a crutch for people pretending to be doing more physical activity than the child labor it took to mine the lithium to power it.

[@petedog9581]

Sell old-school mtb's. There is still a market for us analog riders. Work with Spot Bikes... great bikes that need more exposure and from Golden CO. Does the tax credit include pedal-assist EMTB's? I hope the shop does well in 2025. Good luck.

[@MartyUlrich]

Yup the tax credit covers any class 1, 2, or 3 eBike. I do fix up a lot of old mtn bikes - that's how I started my shop actually! I'm on the other side of the divide from the Front Range. I'm doing fine, but I thought I'd expose this for what it is - another gov't scheme to transfer tax dollars into wealthy coffers.

[@RFMeloneer1989]

So participate and collect when you file taxes.

[@MartyUlrich]

If I could afford to sit on that money I would. I need that profit to pay the immediate bills.

[@bobbyg3333]

We feel your pain. TFS. It sounds typical though. Grow government, squash independence. In 2017 we bought 2 Bike Shop built 1000w BBSHD bikes. They are low geared for climbing and barely do 31mph on flat or down hill. A few months later the gvn mnt made them illegal! Illegal? If I could pedal a half mile uphill, I could walk it (without excessive pain and suffering) and wouldn't need a $2,500 tool for assistance! We don't receive or want disability, nor do we want someone else to pay our share. I just want to go to the forests I love. While I agree that even a 250w electric motor Is a motor, It Is NOT a motorcycle, in my opinion. Render to Caesar? How much rendering will be enough for ceasar? The difference between owning something purchased and borrowing/leasing it, IS Perpetual Fees, Taxes and LISENCING. I am in favor of supporting schools, police, our soldiers, and stuff but the Tiny portion they get being eclipsed by the lion's share being taken from them and weaponized against us? Thanks but no thanks. Nowadays the hikers hate the pedal bikers, who hate ebikers, who hate bow hunters, who hate muzzle-loader hunters etc. I half expect this comment to be censored. Sorry about the rant.

[@MartyUlrich]

well said

[@clarkwilson2670]

If getting that $450 now is the difference between you going out of business or not then I get what you’re saying. If not, you’d be stupid to not take part in the program and get the extra sales and the extra $50 at the end of the year.

[@skateinspace]

youre first sentence intends that he sells one ebike a year bruh lmao if he sells 100 ebikes a year thats anywhere around $45,000 which is probably his yearly salary or one of his employees...now what if i told you hey im going to give your salary that you worked hard for in a year. silly goose go back

[@MartyUlrich]

No, it's not going to make or break me to sell these eBikes, but I am definitely going to sell less eBikes as a direct result of this tax incentive. And yeah, I can't afford to sit on the profit for a year, even if it does get a little interest. I'm not in dire straits, but the profit margins are razor thin. I'd think that most small independent bike shops are the same way, except the ones in rich resort towns.

[@TheBrandiBeatdown]

🔥🙏🏼🔥

[@seafury24]

Only in liberal democrat states does this dumb stuff happen to small business.

[@Razorcrew_Cole]

Sucks for sure man

[@MartyUlrich]

Yeah, believe me, I didn't vote for any of this!!

[@mray8519]

Don’t be a stupid ass. Get your facts straight before talking shit out your ass.

[@Adventures4vida]

yea no one is getting ripped off or ran out of business in red states....

[@Razorcrew_Cole]

@Adventures4vida fuck you guys l! 😆 I love Colorado but you're not wrong man, they are just destroying us I try to run too small businesses and the last year or two have just ripped me apart for everything I've worked so hard for the past 10 years of my life. Definitely makes me think about leaving this day but God I love the mountains here

[@mrobvious5340]

E-bikes are electric mopeds and should be treated just like 49cc mopeds as far as rules.

[@MartyUlrich]

I can agree with that

[@everttrogers]

Keep voting democrat

[@NoCarNancy]

You don't have to strive to be rich

[@NoCarNancy]

Omg you only have handful of Ebikes and complaining

[@MartyUlrich]

Well I did just move, so yeah, I sold a few before that. I am just a small shop after all.