Cary trustees ask staff to draft micromobility rules focused on speed and education after safety briefing

Village staff and the police chief presented an overview of electric micromobility devices and potential local regulations. Staff described device types (class 1–3 e‑bikes, low‑speed electric scooters, self‑balancing boards, and higher‑powered eMotos over 750 watts) and summarized where state law already prescribes limits (for example, class 3 e‑bikes have a 16‑year minimum operator age and e‑bikes are generally prohibited on sidewalks per the Illinois Vehicle Code).

Police staff and the chief explained enforcement challenges: it can be difficult to visually distinguish e‑bike classes or read small frame labels while a device is in motion, overlapping jurisdictions (village, park district, conservation district, county and state roads) create inconsistent rules, and higher‑power eMotos pose different safety and battery‑fire risks. The chief said prior local incidents included a significant e‑motorcycle accident and a small number of collisions where scooters struck vehicles.

Trustees repeatedly identified speed as the most enforceable and safety‑relevant factor and recommended staff return with an ordinance that focuses on speed limits, parental accountability, education campaigns (schools and park district), possible sticker/registration options, and coordination with neighboring agencies. Several trustees suggested pilot programs for education (training classes, Safety Town type programming) and asked staff to assess legal constraints (for example, municipal limits on helmet/registration mandates under state law).

Staff said they will draft model ordinance language, explore registration and helmet options where legally permitted, and coordinate with the park district and school districts on outreach before returning to the board with a proposed ordinance.