Curious about e-bikes? Try one from the Cambridge E-bike Lending Library!

The E-bike Lending Library is a free, not-for-profit service working to expand access to e-bikes in the area. We have a small collection of e-bikes that we lend out to community members for up to a week, for free.

E-bikes are a great way to get around the Boston area. But there are many brands and styles to choose from, and because many e-bikes are sold online, it can be a challenge to try an e-bike before buying one.

By borrowing a bike, you can experience your daily commute, go grocery shopping, or just take a bike for a spin and decide whether e-bikes are right for you. Sign up to borrow an e-bike or contact us with any questions.

How it works

  • Contact us to let us know which e-bike(s) you’d like to try.
  • We’ll get in touch to schedule a time to borrow an e-bike.
  • Visit the library in Porter Square to pick up an e-bike. If you haven’t ridden an e-bike before, expect this to take 15-30 minutes, or longer if you want to try more than one e-bike.
  • Enjoy e-biking for up to a week, then bring the e-bike back to the library.
  • You can borrow an e-bike more than once, or borrow multiple e-bikes.

To be eligible, you must be 18 or older, and have a secure place to store an e-bike at home, and at work or school if you plan to commute. You should also be comfortable riding a standard bicycle before trying an e-bike.

The E-bike Library is run by me, Christopher Schmidt, using my own e-bikes. The e-bikes are free to borrow, but you’re welcome to make a small donation to help cover maintenance costs if you would like. The e-bikes are stored in my shed at my home in Porter Square.

A group of four ebikes standing up in the inside of a wooded shed.

Read more about our bikes