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Trustees discuss e-bike safety, potential local rules and grant opportunities
Summary
Trustees raised concerns about high-powered e-bikes, enforcement challenges and possible regulation during a report on the Northwest Mayor's Conference. Chief Johnson said definitions and titling rules create gray areas; trustees discussed education, local registration and CMAP grant opportunities for bike infrastructure.
Trustees discussed e-bike safety, enforcement and possible local regulation during the March 20, 2025 meeting of the Village of Hanover Park.
Trustee Porter reported on a bicycle and pedestrian committee session at the Northwest Mayor's Conference, saying a growing number of high-powered e-bikes operating at speeds of 20 mph or more are creating enforcement and safety challenges. "It's an issue that's gaining a lot of attention, with the proliferation of e bikes, that are traveling 20 miles or more, up and down our streets," Porter said, and asked how municipalities should approach education, registration and enforcement.
Hanover Park Police Chief Johnson responded that there is a legal gray area around how such vehicles are defined and regulated. "This issue is something that's on my radar for sure. There's a gray area as to the definition of...how are they defined as motor vehicles. Right now, as it stands, 99% of them would require to be titled and registered as motor vehicles, which they don't qualify for," Johnson said. He said communities are experimenting with local registration, municipal titling, or education and that he is watching pending state legislation and coordinating with neighboring communities and police departments.
Trustees noted possible follow-up steps: local discussions with the police department to determine enforcement implications, further input from the bicycle and pedestrian committee, and investigation of grant opportunities through the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning (CMAP) for bikeway and pedestrian projects.
Ending
Trustees agreed to consult further with Chief Johnson and staff and to bring feedback from local stakeholders back to the bicycle and pedestrian committee for possible next steps.
