Riverwoods trustees say state law governs stand‑up scooters; board opts for resident outreach

Residents and trustees at a Village of Riverwoods Board of Trustees meeting discussed safety concerns about stand‑up electric scooters being used on local streets and agreed to rely on existing state rules while increasing public information.

A resident told the trustees that children in the neighborhood were using stand‑up scooters on streets and sidewalks, saying, "Kids they have you know, I see, like, 12 year olds in my neighborhood." Meeting participants noted that under current state law riders must be 18 to use such scooters on public streets, unless the device is a higher‑speed model, in which case local rules can apply.

Trustees and staff discussed options for addressing mixes of scooter speeds and rider ages without changing local ordinance language immediately. Several trustees described outreach approaches used by other municipalities — a web page and newsletter notices explaining where scooters are allowed and where they are not — and suggested mailing or website announcements as the first step. One trustee summarized the board's position as defaulting to state law "unless there's a hue and cry for change," and recommended making residents aware of the legal limits.

The board did not introduce or vote on any new ordinance or age restriction at the meeting. Instead, trustees discussed educational steps: posting guidance on the village website, including the information in the newsletter, and considering a targeted mailing or other informational materials. Staff also mentioned the option of compiling clear guidance for residents showing typical speeds (5 mph, 10 mph, 20 mph) by observation to illustrate differences between walking, biking and higher‑speed scooter travel.

No formal motion to adopt new scooter regulations was made. The discussion closed with trustees agreeing to take the educational approach for now and revisit the issue if substantial public demand or safety incidents prompt a change.