Important Notice
This FAQ is educational and focuses on ownership after purchase. Always follow the instructions provided by the e-bike manufacturer, the retailer that sold the bike, and any official program rules that apply to warranty, service, and ownership documentation.
Independence statement: This page is published by RideTHISbike as an independent educational resource. It is not the official City application portal, and RideTHISbike does not decide who receives a rebate.
Official sources control: If anything on this page conflicts with official City or program administrator guidance, the official guidance controls.
Last updated: July 1, 2026
What Has Changed?
- July 1, 2026: Created FAQ 6 to answer common questions about ownership, battery care, service, theft prevention, warranty support, and long-term transportation value after buying a rebate e-bike.
Quick Answer
The rebate helps with the purchase, but the value comes from years of real use. After buying your e-bike, focus on safe charging, secure storage, routine service, theft prevention, and using the bike for practical trips.
What should I do as soon as I bring my e-bike home?
Start by reading the owner's manual. Charge the battery only as instructed and only as needed. RideTHISbike makes every effort to fully charge a battery pack before pickup, so ask before assuming the battery needs to be charged again immediately.
Before you leave the shop, we will go over the controls, confirm you understand how to operate the bike, and adjust your saddle and handlebar position. If you are uncertain about anything after you get home, come back and ask for help.
- Store your e-bike where it can be locked securely. Never assume that storing it unlocked behind a locked gate is enough.
- Before setting out on a long ride, take a couple of shorter rides first so you can build confidence and learn how the bike feels.
- Check your tires regularly to make sure they are properly inflated.
- Check your brakes and lighting, including brake lights and turn signals when offered.
- Store your receipt, serial number, and voucher paperwork in a safe place.
Do I need to register my warranty?
Yes. Warranty registration is important. In some cases, registering the warranty may enhance the warranty coverage or make the support process easier if a problem occurs.
Factory recalls also happen on occasion. Registering gives the brand a way to notify you if something should be inspected, updated, or corrected.
- Keep your receipt.
- Take a photo of your serial number and keep it on your phone.
- Keep an updated photo of your e-bike on your phone.
- Register your bike for free with Bike Index, a nationwide database that many police departments use to help return stolen bikes to their rightful owners.
- Keep voucher paperwork and manufacturer warranty instructions in a safe place.
How often should my e-bike be serviced?
Service needs depend on how often you ride, weather exposure, rider weight, cargo load, road conditions, and the type of e-bike. As a practical rule, new owners should plan on an early checkup after the bike has been ridden enough for cables, brakes, spokes, and fasteners to settle, then schedule routine service as usage increases.
How should I care for the battery?
Use only the charger supplied or approved for your e-bike, charge in a safe location, avoid extreme heat, avoid leaving the battery in direct sun for long periods, and follow the manufacturer's instructions for storage and charging.
Batteries and chargers can get warm during charging. Do not charge with either the battery or charger in direct sunlight. Extreme heat is hard on electronics, and New Orleans heat makes this especially important.
How long should an e-bike battery last?
Battery life varies by brand, battery quality, riding conditions, load, storage, and charging habits. The most useful answer is not a single number. Treat the battery as a major component that should be protected from abuse, charged properly, and checked if it shows unusual behavior.
Can I ride my e-bike in the rain?
Many UL-certified e-bikes are designed to be used in normal wet conditions, but an e-bike is not a boat. Normal wet roads are different from flooded streets, deep standing water, saltwater, pressure washing, or riding through extreme storm conditions.
New Orleans weather makes this question especially important. Rain exposure, humidity, potholes, and occasional street flooding all make storage and maintenance more important here. If we are having one of those locally heavy thunderstorms where conditions are unsafe for riding in general, wait it out.
Avoid deep standing water, flooded streets, pressure washing, and storage where water can sit on electrical components. After wet rides, dry the bike, check the brakes, and follow the manufacturer's guidance.
What should I do if I get a flat tire?
Do not keep riding on a flat tire because it can damage the wheel, tire, tube, motor cable, or brake system.
Do not assume that because you replaced a tube once on a BMX bike when you were younger, you should attempt to replace the tube on the motorized wheel of your e-bike. If the motor is in the hub, e-bike wheels are heavier and more complex than regular bicycle wheels and must be reinstalled correctly.
If you cannot safely repair it yourself, leave it to an expert. Do not hand the job to a random person who is not familiar with e-bike wheels, motor cables, brakes, and torque requirements.
What maintenance can I do myself?
Most owners can learn to keep tires inflated, keep the bike clean, check that lights work, listen for unusual noises, keep the chain reasonably clean, and notice brake changes early. Do not attempt electrical repairs unless you are trained and the manufacturer supports that work.
What should a bike shop handle?
A qualified shop should handle brake service, wheel issues, drivetrain adjustment, electrical diagnosis, software or display problems when applicable, warranty support, battery or charger concerns, and anything involving safety-critical parts. When in doubt, get the bike checked.
How can I help prevent theft?
Use a serious lock and lock the frame to a fixed object, even if you are only going inside somewhere briefly. Do not cheap out on the lock. A rebate does not make a stolen e-bike less painful to replace.
More e-bikes are coming from the factory with built-in trackers, which can help, but tracking is not a substitute for a strong lock and good habits.
- Use a quality lock every time, even for quick stops.
- Lock the frame to a fixed object.
- Avoid leaving the bike outside overnight when possible.
- Remove accessories that can be stolen easily.
- Record the serial number and keep updated photos of the bike.
- Register your bike for free with Bike Index.
What accessories should I consider after purchase?
Start with safety and security: a quality helmet, strong lock, lights, and reflectivity. Depending on your use, you may also need cargo bags, a basket, fenders, mirrors, a phone mount, child-carrying equipment, or rain gear. Choose accessories based on actual trips, not just what looks useful online.
How can I become more confident riding in New Orleans?
Start with low-stress streets, practice starting and stopping, learn how the assist levels feel, avoid high-traffic routes until you are comfortable, and use Bike Smarts as a starting point for practical New Orleans riding tips. Confidence grows fastest when the bike fits well and you practice before relying on it for important trips.
RideTHISbike's Bike Smarts section is a good starting point because it offers practical tips for riding in New Orleans.
Who should I contact if I have a warranty issue?
Start with the retailer who sold and assembled the e-bike, especially if the retailer is expected to service and repair the bikes it sells. Keep your receipt, serial number, photos, and a clear description of the problem. The manufacturer controls warranty coverage, but a good local retailer can often help with the process.
How do I get the most transportation value from my e-bike?
Use the bike for real trips, not just recreation. Start with short errands, work commutes, visits to friends, school runs where appropriate, grocery trips, and routes that replace short car trips. Bike Smarts can help with practical New Orleans riding tips. The more often the e-bike replaces a car trip, the more value the rebate creates for the rider and the community.
RideTHISbike's Bike Smarts section offers free tips that can help you use an e-bike more confidently and practically in New Orleans.
Official Resources
Our Commitment to Accuracy
RideTHISbike will update this FAQ section as official information changes. If you spot something that appears outdated or inconsistent with official City or program administrator guidance, please contact us so we can review and correct it. Trust matters more than speed.
Our Promise
The purpose of this Resource Center is to help New Orleanians make the best use of a finite resource: this generous, truly free instant e-bike rebate that each lottery winner can use only once.
If the time we've invested in creating this guide helps even a few people choose an e-bike that better meets their transportation needs, and continues serving them for years to come, then every hour spent building this resource will have been worthwhile long after the rebate program has become history.
We believe the City's investment succeeds when an e-bike becomes part of everyday life, replacing car trips, improving health, reducing transportation costs, and bringing more joy to getting around New Orleans.
That's why we've invested so much time building this Resource Center, and why we'll continue updating it as the program evolves.