City of Wheaton, IL

New Ordinance Related to Electric Bikes & Devices Requires Riders to “Keep it Safe, Keep it Legal”

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As electric bikes, scooters and other similar devices have become more popular in our community, the City of Wheaton is enacting some common-sense measures to protect the safety of cyclists, riders, pedestrians and drivers, while setting some minimum requirements for vehicles capable of higher speeds.

While the Illinois Vehicle Code sets some rules for certain electric bikes and electric scooters, a new City ordinance focuses on higher-speed electric vehicles not yet regulated by the state and prohibits behavior that meets the City’s “recklessness standard” for all riders. At its April 6 meeting, the Wheaton City Council approved an ordinance that requires riders to Keep it Safe, Keep it Legal:
  • Keep it Safe:
    • Reckless operation of any type of bicycle, scooter or motorized device is not allowed. This new recklessness standard generally means riding in a way that puts you and others at risk, such as using excessive speed, or not following the rules of the road. All bicyclists and riders must follow the rules of the road, including stopping at stop signs, yielding for pedestrians in crosswalks, and riding in the same direction as traffic.
  • Keep it Legal:
    • Riders of “out-of-class electric vehicles” – vehicles similar to dirt bikes/motorbikes capable of higher speeds and with more powerful engines than lower-speed electric bicycles (generally greater than 750 watts and capable of more than 28 mph) – must be at least 16 years old and have a valid driver’s license. Out-of-class electric vehicles are only allowed on roads, not on sidewalks.
  • Violators of this ordinance may be subject to fines or other penalties, and parents may be held accountable for the conduct of minors under their care.
“Our number one priority here is to keep everyone in our community safe – from kids on electric scooters to pedestrians on sidewalks to drivers of motor vehicles, and everyone in between,” said Wheaton Police Chief Princeton Youker. “There are a lot of new types of electric bikes and devices out in our community and some confusion about who can ride them and where. We’re here as a partner with the community to help educate riders on where it’s safe and legal to ride so we can prevent dangerous behavior, which can have tragic consequences.”

We encourage parents and guardians to become familiar with the new ordinance and help share this information with children to ensure they are riding safely and in the appropriate places. The Wheaton Police Department will be dedicating additional patrols to help educate cyclists, riders and others of the new ordinance, especially in the downtown.

As a reminder, the City requires you to “walk your wheels” if you are on downtown sidewalks. Except for the portion of the Illinois Prairie Path that runs through the downtown, you may not ride bicycles, skateboards, scooters or other similar devices on downtown sidewalks.

The Wheaton City Council, City staff and Wheaton’s Bicyclist and Pedestrian Commission have been collaborating to create an ordinance that prioritizes the safety of cyclists, pedestrians and motorists in a way that is understandable and emphasizes resident education. Over the coming months, you will continue to see information from the City informing the community of this new ordinance and highlighting safe riding and driving in our community.

“We appreciate the community’s partnership and support as we introduce these important changes to protect everyone’s safety,” Chief Youker said.

Additional information about this ordinance and the full ordinance are available on the City’s website.
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