E-Bike Complaints: What 1 DuPage County Village May Do To Regulate Them

WOODRIDGE, IL — Woodridge is joining several nearby suburbs that are making efforts to regulate the use of e-bikes and e-scooters. At the village's July 17 meeting, trustees discussed a proposal to amend village code to include rules for e-scooters, e-bikes, mopeds, gas bikes and similar devices.

Woodridge Police Chief Tom Stefanson shared a presentation outlining the proposed amendments, along with applicable fees for violations.

He said the amendments come "in response to several complaints that we’ve received over the past few months regarding these type of devices being on our sidewalks, our bike paths or multi-use paths."

Stefanson said the police department has received complaints about motorists on e-bikes and e-scooters popping wheelies and being inconsiderate of pedestrians and other people on sidewalks and paths.

During his presentation, Stefanson reviewed what nearby municipalities are doing to regulate these devices.

Glen Ellyn recently banned e-bikes and e-scooters in Central Business District. Hinsdale is considering even stricter rules on e-bikes amid reports of disturbances in the village and Burr Ridge.

Ordinances or other ways to regulate e-bikes have also been discussed in Downers Grove, Darien, Elmhurst and Westmont.

Under the proposed ordinance, e-bikes, mopeds, gas-powered bikes and similar devices would be held to the same traffic standards as other motor vehicles.

Woodridge’s proposed ordinance would also require the minimum age to operate low-speed e-bikes, gas-powered bikes to be 14 years old.

Those who operate low-speed e-scooters would have to be 18 or older, per the proposed ordinance.

Motorists who are 21 years old and younger would be required to wear helmets that are approved by the Department of Transportation.

Motorists would be prevented from using e-bikes, e-scooters and other motorized vehicles (except personal mobility devices and wheelchairs) on sidewalks, multi-use paths and bike paths, unless the devices are being operated manually.

Off-highway motorcycles and other devices with electric motors of 750 watts or more will not be permitted on public property.

Stefanson said the police department’s first goal is to educate the public on the new ordinance if it takes effect.

“We’re not going to just go out and start writing tickets,” he said. “I think it’s important for us to let our citizens know about this ordinance.”

Stefanson said penalties for e-bike and e-scooter violations are an amendment to the village’s bike ordinance. Fines of $5 or $10 would apply, depending on the specific violation. If subsequent violations occur within the ensuing 12 months, an additional fine of $15 or $30 may be imposed.

Fines would apply to the juvenile and the parent “for allowing the behavior,” Stefanson said.

Village staff will consider an ordinance to amend the bike ordinance at its Aug. 7 meeting.

When the issue was posed to trustees on the board, trustee Page said, "“I struggle with the paths and the sidewalks,” trustee Page said.

She offered an example of if an e-bike driver were on Route 53 near Seven Bridges.

“I’d rather someone be on that e-bike on a sidewalk than next to a semi on the road,” Page said, adding, "I get it in residential areas.”

Trustee Nekovar explained that state law prohibits these types of vehicles on state highways and scooters are prevented on streets with speed limit of 35 mph or higher.

He later added that bikes are required to be on streets, not sidewalks in Chicago.

that state law prohibits these types of vehicle on state highways. And scooters are prevented on streets with speed limit of 35 mph or higher.

Page said, “The difference between the city and us is there’s a traffic light every 10th of a mile and the speed limit is probably under 30 miles an hour.”

She added, "We have these long stretches of road and that makes a huge difference for me.”

In the public comment portion of the meeting, resident Erin Storr said she "would really like to see just more education to the schools directly…to more children."

"My oldest is 13 and I see a lot of his peers engaging in this activity," Storr said.

Cassondra Neau addressed the issue of permitting e-bikes on sidewalks and paths if they are being operated manually.

Neau said, "If you have an e-bike and you’re in manual mode, it is extremely difficult to pedal and you cannot get uphill. If you’re not using pedal assist, you cannot use an e-bike and you certainly wouldn’t be able to make it up any hills.”

She added, "A lot of times on the paths, the people I see using e-bikes aren’t kids, it’s senior citizens who want to be able to continue to bike.”

A vote on the amendments was delayed until the Aug. 7 village meeting to allow village staff will gather more information.

The village is also seeking feedback from the public. Residents can click the link to weigh in on e-bike and e-scooter usage in Woodridge.