Will Buffalo Grove join other communities in regulating e-bikes?

Buffalo Grove could be following other communities down the path of regulating e-bikes, e-scooters, and other electric mobility devices.

Trustees at Monday’s village board meeting heard from police officials and talked about a possible ordinance.

Deputy Police Chief Tara Anderson said e-mobility devices have skyrocketed in popularity.

“The rapid growth of this industry has outpaced the development of common sense state and local regulations,” she noted. “Local ordinances have popped up all around the communities, and it's really like a patchwork quilt. It's kind of a mess. Nobody's on the same page.”

Although the village has waged a public education campaign, including sharing information at such public events as the Buffalo Grove Police Bike Rodeo, it does not have an ordinance.

Anderson suggested a local ordinance of limited scope that adopts current state laws, while enabling the village to use its own administrative adjudication program.

Village Manager Dane Bragg said adopting state provisions would allow police officers to write citations.

“I think there are obviously some significant limitations that we would like to see on any high-speed devices being used in the village,” he added.

Bragg also said the village would like to pursue regulations consistent with those of the park district.

“I've been serving on the board for quite some time, and I can't remember the last time I received this amount of emails from residents regarding the issue of e-bikes,” Trustee Lester Ottenheimer III said. “I think the time is absolutely right to do something about it now.”

Trustee Joanne Johnson said residents are fearful while on bike paths or when driving.

“I definitely think we should prohibit e-motos, because those are essentially motorcycles, without any guidance from the state on who can drive them or not,” she said.

Johnson suggested the board approve some regulations ahead of the holiday shopping season.