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Trustee urges ordinance to curb electric bikes after near-miss on Blackthorn Road
Summary
Following a near-collision with fast-moving electric and motorized bikes, trustees asked the attorney to draft an ordinance to restrict or ban certain motorized devices on village streets and discussed enforcement and education measures.
Trustee Jamerson told the Village Board of Trustees that children riding an electric bicycle and a motorized minibike nearly collided with him while he was on Blackthorn Road, and urged the board to consider an ordinance to curb or ban such devices on village streets.
“I almost killed 2 people, about a week ago, little kids on an electric bike and a motorized mini bike driving down Blackthorn Road, at a very high rate of speed,” Trustee Jamerson said. He said the riders were not neighborhood residents and that vehicles he described as electric bikes and unicycleshaped devices can reach speeds of 30 miles per hour; one resident described a device that “goes about 35 miles an hour.”
Trustees discussed options including following model language from other municipalities and the Illinois Vehicle Code. A staff member summarized Deerfield’s approach, saying the municipality requires compliance with the Illinois Vehicle Code, prohibits electric bikes on sidewalks and requires riders 15 and younger to wear helmets. The transcript shows no formal vote on an ordinance. Multiple trustees expressed support for drafting a document to review.
Trustees raised enforcement and outreach questions: how the village would notify residents about a new rule, whether signs or a public hearing would be needed, whether an initial grace period for warnings would be appropriate and whether private-street associations could request village enforcement. Trustee Trevino noted that a newsletter alone would not reach everyone. Trustee Clayton said he owns an electric bike and emphasized concerns about balancing restrictions with residents’ lawful use; he confirmed a driver’s license would affect allowable use under some models discussed.
Trustee Jamerson asked the board to instruct the village attorney to draft proposed language; trustees agreed to pursue a draft for future consideration and public review. The transcript does not record a formal ordinance introduction, public hearing date or final action.
