Low-cost electric car and bike share program coming to Stockton

Stockton residents in low-income areas will soon have new options for transportation: Electric bikes and electric cars will be available for sharing, part of a new California program to make getting-around more affordable and ecological.

The state Air Resources Board is granting the San Joaquin Council of Governments $7.4 million for its Stockton Mobility Collective. This will put 100 e-bikes and 30 zero-emission cars on the road at multiple locations throughout Stockton.

Renting a car would cost $4 an hour or $35 for the day.

Christine Corrales, who heads up the program, says the cost of transportation is a real concern for low-income families, and owning a car is a major expense due to inflation and supply challenges.

“In Stockton, most under-resourced neighborhoods the percentage of zero-vehicle households is 50 percent higher than the city-wide average,” she said. 

And many people don’t have cars at all. “The cost of housing and transportation make up a majority of monthly expenses, so it’s really tough to make ends meet, so this means that residents in these low-income neighborhoods are much more likely to choose or to rely on travel modes other than driving,” Corrales said.

Organizers suspect the program will be important for families who need to go shopping, see a doctor or even get to work.

Corrales adds that she is hopeful the cars and bikes will be available by late 2022 or early next year.