Responding to safety concerns around e-bikes and e-scooters as the devices’ popularity rises, Batavia is considering implementing regulations as to how e-bikes and other motorized devices can and can’t be used in the city. Many other suburban municipalities have recently taken up legislation in response to concerns about these devices’ safety — from nearby St. Charles to Highland Park and Park Ridge. On Monday at its Committee of the Whole meeting, the Batavia City Council heard a presentation from Batavia Police Chief Eric Blowers about “e-mobility” devices and what kind of regulations the city may choose to impose. At Monday’s meeting, Blowers noted the benefits of the devices, as well as their potential safety issues — like individuals operating the equipment in an unsafe manner, riding too close to pedestrians or in congested areas on sidewalks and disregarding traffic control devices. In particular, he noted concerns with child riders, including a lack of proper safety gear, unfamiliarity with the rules of the road and a lack of parental oversight. So, the police department, along with the Batavia Active Transportation Advisory Committee, is looking to develop some regulations for the city for e-bikes and similar devices. “This is not a … goal to discourage or limit the opportunity for people to utilize e-mobility devices, but rather to ensure that they’re doing so in a safe and responsible way,” Blowers said. But, one difficulty that’s arisen when it comes to regulations is that different municipalities have different rules, and that’s on top of some state regulations governing these devices’ use. “There is some rider and public confusion,” Blowers said. “So, we want to enact (a) local regulation that’s …easy to understand … (and) easy to enforce and that closely aligns with the existing state laws, because we don’t want to have something completely outside the box.” Under Illinois law, e-bikes, which are sometimes referred to as low-speed electric bicycles, are different from an electric motorcycle. An e-bike must have an electric motor of less than 750 watts, and is split into three classes. Class 1 e-bikes have motors that only provide assistance when the rider is pedaling, whereas Class 2 e-bikes have an electric motor that cuts out when the brake is applied. Class 3 e-bikes, like Class 1, have a motor that stops when its rider stops pedaling. Riders must be 16 years old or older to use Class 3 e-bikes, according to state law. State law also indicates that a rider can operate a low-speed electric bicycle on any roadway a traditional bike can use, including in bike lanes. E-bikes can’t be operated on sidewalks, however. According to the 2025 Illinois Rules of the Road from the Secretary of State’s Office, low-speed electric and gas bicycles may not exceed 20 mph. But the state’s rules also allow local governments to prohibit some or all classes of e-bikes on bike paths, which has created a patchwork of different laws across Chicago’s suburbs. On Monday, Blowers noted particular concern with “e-motos,” or electric motorcycles, being used on shared paths, sidewalks and roadways. An e-moto, according to Blowers, can often exceed 20 mph without its rider pedaling, and sometimes lacks pedals entirely. He said they’re not currently regulated under state law, but municipalities often regulate them as they do motor vehicles. Low-speed electric scooters, on the other hand, are regulated by the state, which requires riders to be 18 years old or older. There are no state definitions for faster e-scooters, Blowers said. He noted that the city, as it considers local rules for these devices, may be able to create another classification for these scooters, and recommended that they maintain at least the minimum restrictions in place by the state for the lower speed version. As far as the specifics of a future ordinance, Blowers pointed to some of the major issues other municipalities have regulations on, like requiring helmets for riders under 16, prohibiting cellphone use while riding, requiring parental oversight or parental responsibility for a minor’s actions and instituting yield requirements for riders when they’re approaching pedestrians. He also noted things like speed limit recommendations on shared paths, mandatory dismount zones in downtown areas, prohibiting the use of e-mobility devices on sidewalks and lighting requirements for the devices. Blowers said the city’s goal when crafting an ordinance would be to largely mirror state statute when it comes to regulations for e-bikes, but e-motos are the “primary concern” in that they are unregulated currently. “Those are the devices that I think likely need a higher level of scrutiny,” Blowers said of e-motos. As far as enforcement, Blowers emphasized that the city would likely rely on local prosecution, rather than criminal court, for violations of any future e-bike policy, as it enables more flexibility and often lighter penalties. He also suggested the possibility of a graduated enforcement, in which first-time violations warrant a lower fine and fines increase with repeated violations. Blowers’ presentation also emphasized the importance of a public education campaign before enforcement was to begin in the city, including partnerships with entities like local schools, bike shops and community groups. At Monday’s meeting, City Council members weighed in on varying aspects of the possible local legislation, from the specific requirements the city wants to impose to how it’s enforced. Ald. Alan Wolff, for example, suggested making violators of the policy do community service rather than imposing fines, and emphasized the need for education on any regulations that are passed, including partnership with the school district or park district. “That, to me, will be the biggest way we can make this better and make it safer,” Wolff said. “I don’t want us to wait to change stuff for this (until) somebody gets killed.” Ald. Kevin Malone emphasized the importance of lights so the bikes aren’t “disappearing in the dark” as being part of any future regulations. Asked about helmet requirements by the council, Blowers said at the meeting that he had not seen other municipalities adding helmet requirements for adults, only for those 16 and under and a general recommendation that adults wear them. Ald. Jim Fahrenbach asked about the possibility of an adult helmet requirement in Batavia, to which Blowers explained that the city likely could, but noted that differing rules across municipalities could present challenges. Ald. Dustin Pieper said he is a regular e-bike rider and that he often has to use the sidewalk to activate the crosswalk button, so he suggested that to be considered in terms of enforcing any bans on sidewalk use. In response, Blowers said that’s an example where “an officer’s discretion comes into play” and that the concern with enforcement is more so when riders are riding quickly down sidewalks. Malone also asked about the parental responsibility requirement, and Blowers explained that, in the case of a violation, parents are “going to kind of be on the hook for” fines incurred by their children. Ald. Jennifer Baerren said she’s supportive of gradual penalties and parental responsibility for violations, but said she thinks the money from penalties issued could be “an opportunity to invest into more education” on the issue. And Ald. Leah Leman asked how enforceable any local legislation would be, particularly given the proliferation of e-bikes. “Are we just going to have a police officer sitting down at Shumway and Wilson just handing out tickets … every five minutes to kids who come through?,” Leman asked. Wolff said that the city needs to prioritize education and compliance, so that people “know what’s expected of their kids when they’re on these, what’s expected of the adults when they’re on these.” Leman also pointed out the challenges with riding bicycles on roadways in Batavia, and said that the city isn’t currently enforcing the prohibition of riding bicycles on sidewalks. “Even if we make an ordinance, I don’t see us enforcing things like helmets or people being on sidewalks,” Leman said. “I am really asking, are we just putting an ordinance in place just so we can say we have it, but it’s not really going to do anything?” Malone responded that what he’s looking for in local legislation is guidance for parents or commuters for what kinds of e-mobility devices they can purchase and then use in the city, as well as providing guidance to sellers about what kinds of devices are allowed and enabling the police to penalize “egregious” violations. Ald. Tim Lanci also emphasized that enforcement of the use of these devices “starts at home” since the majority of users are kids who don’t have access to cars. He said education “goes a long way,” and that the ordinance provides “some teeth” for enforcement. Fahrenbach referred to this as “step one,” and said that legislation on these devices is just beginning. And Wolff suggested they don’t implement fines at first, and emphasized education efforts as a priority. Blowers said, based on the council’s direction, that an ordinance would begin to be drafted with a helmet requirement for youth and a possible parental responsibility component, as well as creating a higher speed classification for scooters. But, he noted, with state regulations expected down the line, any rules the city creates could be subject to change. “We might be back here in a few months asking to change things,” Blowers said. “But I think at this point, with what we’ve seen and with how slow … things can move at the state level sometimes, it’s probably prudent to just advance a local ordinance at this time and then if we need to amend it down the road, we do so.” [email protected] ...read more read less