Riding into the new school year: Suburban students to face new e-bike regulations
In light of recent deaths and injuries involving kids on e-bikes, e-scooters and e-motos, public safety advocates are seeing the return to school this month as a chance to educate students about these vehicles and the rules governing them.
Hoffman Estates Police Chief Kasia Cawley cited a troubling lack of awareness of those rules when the department hosted a National Night Out event last week. Many children were riding vehicles they’re not allowed to use at a police-sponsored event, she said.
“We’re really trying to educate the parents because the kids are so young,” Cawley said.
With changing traffic patterns at schools each year, school resource and community service officers will stay alert and proactive, she added.
Schaumburg police will follow a similar educational approach, Cmdr. Christy Lindhurst said.
New statewide rules set to take effect on Jan. 1 will place age restrictions on e-bikes and e-scooters, as well as restrictions on where they can be operated. The state also is launching an educational program geared at teaching safe operation of such vehicles.
Dave Simmons, executive director of Ride Illinois, said his organization is partnering with the Secretary of State’s Office to create nine, 30-minute classroom segments for elementary and junior high students.
“It’s a big step because the state doesn’t have anything like this right now,” he said.
The program, named Illinois Safe Pathways, is a collaboration with the Secretary of State’s Office, the Illinois High School and College Driver Education Association (IHSCDEA), and other safety advocates.
Although the state regulations still need Gov. JB Pritzker's signature, the curriculum is being designed as if they are a fact. A pilot program will be tested at 10 to 20 schools this fall or winter before a broader rollout in spring.
IHSCDEA also will offer an Illinois Safe Pathways High School Micromobility Safety Curriculum to more than 150 high schools through its website.
Association President Jennifer Brown said the efforts aim to inform young people about the appropriate age and skills needed to use electric micromobility devices, similar to the “Click It or Ticket” campaign.
“We have to empower our young people to make safe decisions,” she added.
Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias supports the curriculum and the upcoming legislation it addresses.
“Illinois Safe Pathways curriculum is about preparing students for the realities of today’s transportation landscape,” Giannoulias said. “As e-bikes and other micromobility devices become more popular, it's critical young people understand how to safely and responsibly share the road with cars and pedestrians.”
While schools are ideal for reaching kids, Simmons also wants to educate parents about the risks of e-bikes for those under 15. He aims to limit misleading advertising from retailers.
Palatine Township Elementary District 15 and Schaumburg Township Elementary District 54 support local laws by banning electric vehicles for commuting, but Simmons believes such bans are not widespread.
“Once the (state) law goes into effect, it will give districts something to fall back on,” he said.
Recent tragedies involving young riders include last month’s death of 14-year-old Tyler Waldal in Wauconda, last week’s death of 16-year-old Alex Blacio in Chicago and Wednesday’s serious injury of a child in Crystal Lake.
The prevalence of e-bikes seemed sudden in spring 2025, leaving municipal and public safety leaders rushing to find local solutions before seeking statewide rules.
Though there’s still a wait for the state laws to take effect and for the rollout of the new school curriculum, Simmons believes future assessments of governmental interdiction will show efforts were timely and effective.
“I think we’ll say things moved pretty darn quickly,” he said.
epeterson@dailyherald.com