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Oak Lawn amends traffic code to ban low-speed e-scooters, tightens e-bike rules
Summary
The Village of Oak Lawn Board of Trustees on Sept. 9 adopted an update to the village traffic code that bans low-speed e-scooters, creates speed-based e-bike classifications, and imposes age, equipment and roadway restrictions for higher-speed electric scooters and e-bikes.
Lede: The Village of Oak Lawn Board of Trustees unanimously approved an ordinance on Sept. 9 updating the municipal traffic code to address electric bicycles and electric scooters, including a local ban on low-speed electric scooters and new rules for higher-speed devices.
Nut graf: Trustees said the amendments are intended to improve pedestrian and rider safety by aligning the village code with state law while adding local restrictions on equipment, age, allowed roadways and sidewalk use. The ordinance passed by roll call vote after several trustees said they had reviewed state guidance and safety reports.
Body: Trustee Michael Pembroke (District 4) summarized the primary elements of ordinance 25-14-46 during the Sept. 9 meeting, saying the code now distinguishes three classes of e-bikes by speed and sets a 10 mph cap for "low-speed electric scooters," which are banned from village streets under the adopted rules. "In this code, they'll be explicitly banned from use within the village, pursuant to state law," Pembroke said.
Under the ordinance, higher-speed electric scooters and Class 3 e-bikes remain allowed under conditions: operators must be at least 16 years old and possess a valid driver's license; devices must have functional brakes and required front and rear lighting for night use; riders are prohibited from operating on sidewalks and must travel single file and yield to pedestrians.
Trustee Pembroke said the intention is safety-focused. "I think this is a good thing," he said, noting near-miss incidents and the quiet operation of electric devices that can surprise pedestrians. Other trustees who spoke in favor cited months of staff work and public-safety concerns; the board voted for the ordinance by roll call.
The ordinance also prohibits using such devices on roads with posted speed limits of 35 mph or greater and bans passengers and carrying loads that impair control. Trustees said enforcement will rely on police education and compliance, with penalties tied to existing traffic fines in the village code.
Ending: The ordinance took effect on adoption unless otherwise stated in the ordinance text; trustees and staff said they will monitor enforcement and public response and may adjust outreach and education efforts to reduce conflicts between riders and pedestrians.
