'Crazy Stuff': Darien Enacts E-Bike Rules

DARIEN, IL – Responding to residents' concerns, Darien aldermen this week enacted rules for electric bicycles.

Many other towns, including Hinsdale and Burr Ridge, are passing regulations that are stricter than state law. Darien officials warned they could do the same later.

Alderman Ted Schauer said he was recently headed east on 75th Street near Clarendon Hills Road when he saw two children on e-bikes.

"The first kid is on the e-bike doing a wheelie, standing on the seat with his other leg kicked out," the alderman said. "The other kid behind him was turning around, just following. I don't know if he was doing a video or not. I don't care."

Schauer said he had never seen anything like it.

"It was so bad. It was one of those situations where, for a moment, I wanted to follow him and I'm like, 'No, you don't do that. You call the police,'" he said. "You're going to see some crazy stuff."

Alderwoman Mary Sullivan said the rules are a good starting point, but she said more restrictions may be on the way.

"Parents need to parent," she said. "You just need to educate your children on safety. At the end of the day, we don't want to see anyone hurt or, God forbid, a fatality."

Darien's new ordinance largely reflects state law.

Under the rules, no one riding an e-bike can go more than 20 mph. Those riding Class 3 e-bikes, which go up to 28 mph, must be at least 16, which was an amendment to the original proposal.

Like the state, Darien allows for riding e-bikes on streets, but not sidewalks. A difference is that Darien additionally bans them on trails.

Here are Darien's complete set of regulations: