Prospect Heights sets regulations for e-bikes, e-scooters and gas-powered bikes

Prospect Heights has adopted Illinois’ regulations on electric bikes and scooters as its own, with the addition of a parental responsibility clause.

Under that clause, the city specifies citations and fines against violators 16 and younger will be issued to their parents or guardians instead.

City officials also adopted the state’s similar regulations regarding gas-powered bikes. Police Chief Milorad Derman said this was a desire to be comprehensive in enforcement.

Mayor Patrick Ludvigsen said the city council recognized a need to respond to this year’s explosion in the popularity of electric bikes and scooters.

“It’s definitely something you see everyday,” he added.

Derman said October will be a month of public education and warning of the new rules before true enforcement begins Nov. 1.

The coming weeks will feature advertising through flyers and other means as well as attending a Prospect Heights School District 23 meeting as a way to help pass the message directly to children.

E-bikes alone are divided into three categories, two of which have a maximum speed of 20 mph while the third can reach 28 mph. The main restriction on these is that they can’t be operated on sidewalks.

E-scooters can be operated on sidewalks by riders 18 or older but must yield to pedestrians and never exceed 10 mph.

Riders of gas-powered bikes must be at least 16 years old.

Every other similar vehicle is considered a personal mobility device and prohibited everywhere in Prospect Heights. These range from motorized dirt bikes that can exceed the maximum speed of e-bikes to motor-assisted skateboards.

Fines are set $75 to $750. Three violations within 12 months will lead to the impounding of a vehicle. An additional charge of $250 is added to have the vehicle released.

At a Northwest Municipal Conference summit on the issue earlier this week, members of a panel discussed the myriad differences in local and state laws and recommended better guidance on regulation of the devices from the state.