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Riverside trustees direct staff to draft local e-bike and e-scooter rules, favor local adjudication and no-sidewalk use
Summary
Trustees asked staff to draft an ordinance adopting the Illinois Vehicle Code for e-bikes and e-scooters into Riverside code, create a local adjudication process, prohibit the devices on sidewalks, and explore age, single-rider and towing restrictions alongside an education campaign.
The Village of Riverside Board of Trustees on Oct. 16 gave staff direction to draft local regulations for electric bicycles and scooters, including adopting the Illinois Vehicle Code into the village code and establishing an administrative adjudication process so the village can handle violations locally.
Manager Francis and Director Buckley outlined enforcement concerns the police have seen — primarily younger riders operating at speed, failing to stop at intersections and riding on sidewalks where collisions with pedestrians are more likely. Buckley described enforcement challenges and said the department’s priority is education and safe operation: “We wanna educate the kids on how to [ride] them properly and obey the laws,” he said.
Trustees agreed on several policy principles to be included in a forthcoming draft ordinance: (1) adopt the Illinois Vehicle Code definitions for e-bikes and e-scooters into Riverside’s municipal code so the village may adjudicate violations locally; (2) prohibit e-bikes and e-scooters on sidewalks in the village’s business districts and, more broadly, in pedestrian areas; (3) consider an age threshold (trustees discussed 16 as a starting point) and single-rider requirements; (4) prohibit towing behind e-bikes/scooters except for approved manufactured child trailers; and (5) launch a public education campaign coordinated with local schools and parent groups.
Trustees asked staff to clarify device-class definitions in the draft (class 1, 2 and 3 e-bikes have different top speeds; class 3 can reach 28 mph) and to propose enforcement language, including whether some violations would remain state-captionable for Maybrook court in more serious cases. Manager Francis said communities commonly adopt the state vehicle code locally to stay aligned with likely future state changes and to keep adjudication local rather than relying on Cook County court processing.
No ordinance was adopted Oct. 16; staff was asked to return with a draft ordinance addressing the items above, and to coordinate outreach and education with the school district, PTAs and Riverside TV for informational material.
