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Motion by Trustee Taglia and Trustee Wesley to Review E-Bike/Scooter Regulations and Recommend Ordinance Changes to Improve Safety, Including Seeking Input from the Transportation Commission and Board of Health in Advance of the Study Session
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Introduction
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This is a study session to review a draft ordinance regarding recommended changes to the current Village code to strengthen regulations regarding e-bikes, e-scooters, and micromobility devices. In addition, staff will highlight community education efforts and the enforcement strategy.
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Recommended Action
This is a discussion item. Staff is seeking feedback from the Village Board on the attached draft ordinance. Staff recommends the Village Board amend the Village Code to incorporate Senate Bill 3484, which provides for a greater degree of regulation than is currently in effect. Overall, the Bill is more restrictive and provides a statewide framework for safety, education, and enforcement. The benefit of doing so is that the more restrictive regulations would take effect in the Village sooner than January 1, 2027, assuming the Bill becomes law. For example, currently, there are no age restrictions for e-bikes under 28 mph. The pending law requires riders to be at least 15 years old. In addition, motor-driven cycles that can exceed 28 mph are currently not regulated. The pending new law requires the operator to have a driver’s license or an instructional permit.
Prior Board Action
The Board has taken the following prior action(s):
• On September 19, 2025, Trustee Taglia and Trustee Wesley submitted a motion for a study session to review E-Bike and E-Scooter regulations with a goal of strengthening ordinances and improving safety.
• On April 29, 2026, Trustee Leving Jacobson included a request for staff to seek input from the Transportation Commission and Board of Health before the June 2, 2026 Study Session (which was rescheduled to July 14, 2026)
Background
Statewide, the rise in ridership and associated injuries has intensified calls for enhanced regulatory standards. On June 1, 2026, in the Illinois General Assembly, Senate Bill 3336 passed in the Senate and in the House of Representatives, addressing E-Bikes and Micro-Mobility Devices (due to a procedural matter, Senate Bill 3484 was used to cast the final vote in the House and Senate). The Bill was sent to Governor J.B. Pritzker on June 30, 2026. The Bill creates statewide regulations and classifications for e-bikes and micromobility devices. Of particular significance, the Bill would preempt local government regulation of e-bikes, scooters, and other devices. The Bill is anticipated to become law and take effect on January 1, 2027.
Staff is recommending that the Village of Oak Park adopt the same anticipated regulations for both consistency and immediate added safety measures (i.e. is more restrictive) than the current state law in lieu of recommending alternate models in other communities.
A detailed chart comparing existing laws and the proposed draft is attached to this agenda item.
Safety Education Campaign: The Health Department, in collaboration with the Board of Health and the Office of Communications & Engagement have created a communications campaign centered on safely operating e-devices. As the regulations for these devices continue to evolve, the one thing that remains constant is the significant risk these devices can pose.
The goal for the e-ride safety communications campaign is to decrease the number of severe injuries, hospitalizations, and fatalities from e-ride accidents. This will be accomplished by the following:
• Raising awareness about the safety risks with e-rides, no matter how regulations and restrictions are enacted or enforced.
• Ensuring people take the appropriate safety measures to reduce potential harm if they choose to ride an e-bike. The desired behavior changes include consistent helmet-wearing, along with learning and obeying the rules of the road. The pending law does not require anyone to wear a helmet for any e-bike/scooter device; therefore, education regarding helmet-wearing is a priority.
• Increasing drivers’ knowledge of rules of the road for cyclists and drivers, and increasing driving behaviors that allow for safe sharing of the road with e-devices.
Messaging will be shared via the Village website, the Village’s social media accounts, the e-newsletter, the HealthBeat, and brochures to hand out at events. The messaging will be concise, direct, and focus on the following five steps for safety:
• Protect Your Head
• Be in the Bike Lane
• Know the Rules of the Road
• One Rider per Bike or Scooter
• Know the Risks
To assist with spreading the message throughout the community, staff will collaborate with external organizations such as D97, D200, the Oak Park Public Library, and the Park District of Oak Park
Enforcement: Before issuing citations, the Police Department will focus on explaining the new rules and handing out education materials. Community Service Officers will assist with enforcement in Downtown Oak Park and the Hemingway Business District and will be deployed daily to the sidewalks along Lake Street, focusing on sidewalk riding, equipment violations, and minors on e-bikes with speeds above 10 MPH. When an e-bike rider is identified as the at-fault party in a traffic accident, a citation will be issued. Police Officers will focus on the most egregious violations, including riding e-bikes on sidewalks, high-speed e-bikes, unsafe high-speed riding, and nighttime riding without front lights. These motorized devices can be impounded for reckless or repeated violations and include an impoundment fine. The Police Department will track data and send out weekly reports to patrol officers and community services officers, identifying the locations of reported unsafe riding and accidents involving e-scooters and e-bikes.
Timing Considerations
There are no specific timing implications associated with this item. If there is no action, the current state law is in effect, as shown in the chart attached.
Financial Impact
There is no budget impact with this item aside from internal staff time for education and enforcement. Fines for these violations would follow Section 1-1-5 of the Village Code, which allows fines of $20-$750 if a ticket is issued. The fine amount would be set by the administrative law judge based on the circumstances.
Operations Impact
This ordinance would include involvement from both the Police Department regarding safety and enforcement measures, and the Health Department regarding educational programming.
DEI Impact
The item would impact families who have purchased devices for underage riders who will not be legally authorized to ride.
Community Input
The Police Department and Village Law Department attended the Transportation Commission and the Health Commission meetings last month to seek feedback regarding the staff recommendation. Both commissions approved of the recommendation to adopt Senate Bill 3484 early (as shown in the attached draft ordinance).
Community Policing Unit conducted zone meetings in the months of June and July and discussed the present local ordinances, current state law, and the pending bill. The attendance at the meetings ranged from 20 to 30 residents who strongly recommended enhanced regulation for safety reasons.
Staff Recommendation
Staff recommends that the Village Board adopt the draft ordinance amending the Village Code to incorporate Senate Bill 3484, which provides for a greater degree of regulation than is currently in effect. Overall, the Bill is more restrictive and provides a statewide framework for safety, education, and enforcement.
Advantages:
The benefit of doing so is that the more restrictive regulations would take effect immediately in the Village sooner than January 1, 2027, should the Bill become law. For example, the new law and proposed ordinance require e-bike riders to be at least 15 years old. In addition, motor-driven cycles that can exceed 28 mph are currently not regulated. The pending new law requires the operator to have a driver’s license or an instructional permit
Disadvantages:
Some residents may not be aware of the pending state law and newly proposed restrictions.
Alternatives
Alternative 1:
The Board can reject the Ordinance.
Advantages:
• Current Village and State regulations regarding e-bikes can remain consistent until January 1, 2027.
Disadvantages:
• This action may result in a delay in updating regulations surrounding e-bikes.
Alternative 2:
The Board can delay action and seek additional information.
Advantages:
• The Board will be provided with the additional information requested.
Disadvantages:
• This action may result in a delay in updating regulations surrounding e-bikes.
Alternative 3:
The Village Board can delay action and focus only on safety education until the pending new law takes effect.
Advantages:
• This action provides the Village with time to begin educating residents and e-bike users in Oak Park on pending changes to e-bike regulations statewide and in the Village.
Disadvantages:
• This action does not provide the Village with enforcement mechanisms until the new law takes effect.
Anticipated Future Actions
The Village Board could act immediately on the proposed ordinance and make the proposed changes effective immediately.
Prepared By: Shatonya Johnson, Chief of Police
Reviewed By: Lisa Shelley, Deputy Village Manager
Approved By: Kevin J. Jackson, Village Manager
Attachment(s):
1. Proposed Draft Ordinance
2. Chart Comparing Current Law to Proposed Law Effective January 1, 2027
3. Presentation
4. Link to Current Information on Website Regarding E-Bike Safety
5. Copy of Current E-Bike Safety Brochure