Oswego police propose age, helmet and location rules for e‑bikes and e‑scooters

Chief Jason Baston told the Village of Oswego Board on Nov. 4 that the police department is recommending a local ordinance to regulate electric bicycles and scooters after a rise in complaints and three reported crashes over four years. The draft ordinance would sort devices by speed and class and place age, equipment and location limits on their operation.

Baston said the proposal would treat low‑speed devices (maximum 10 mph) differently from higher‑speed e‑bikes and scooters. "Low speed e scooters ... we are proposing that you can only operate those on sidewalks and bicycle paths" that fall under village jurisdiction, he said, while e‑bikes and scooters that exceed 10 mph would be limited to bicycle paths and roadways and would not be allowed on sidewalks.

The draft sets minimum ages by vehicle class: Baston outlined a proposal for class 1 and class 2 e‑bikes (up to 20 mph) to be limited to users 14 or older, and class 3 e‑bikes (up to 28 mph) to 16 or older. He said the state currently sets 18 as the minimum age for some scooters but that "we might have the possibility of lowering the age" for village ordinance purposes; he offered to verify that change with village counsel.

To improve safety, the proposal would require helmets for anyone under 18 using an e‑bike or e‑scooter, ban passengers and riding on pegs, prohibit use of mobile devices while operating, and set a 750‑watt maximum motor rating. Baston also described parental liability language and an enforcement structure: a class 2 ordinance violation with a $75 first offense, escalating fines for repeat offenders and potential adjudication fines up to $750; in some cases a device could be impounded until a parent retrieved it.

"Our goal on this is not to issue tickets," Baston said. "Our goal is to get compliance ... and at some point, I'm sure we're going to have to issue some." He said the department prefers education and warnings early in the rollout and that officials are preparing a one‑page flyer and other outreach to coincide with colder months when usage typically drops.

Trustees pressed several practical questions about enforcement and scope. Board members asked whether the village could require a driver’s license to operate on public roads, whether third‑party safety training programs exist, and how officials would distinguish between e‑bike classes during enforcement. Baston said some class distinctions (for example, a visible throttle) can help and that officers could use speed measurements in obvious cases; he acknowledged identifying classes by sight is not always straightforward.

Council members also questioned a proposed restriction in the historic downtown, noting downtown is a bike destination and that removing access could limit pedestrian and business connections. Baston said he could remove the historic downtown provision from the draft if the board preferred and repeated that the department is coordinating with the park district so rules are consistent across village and park district paths.

Next steps: Baston said staff will research legal limits on local age restrictions, look into safety‑training options, adjust the draft per feedback (including possible removal of downtown limits), and report back to the board with a revised ordinance in the next few weeks.

The board did not take a formal vote on the ordinance at the meeting; Baston said the goal is to return with a final draft for consideration at an upcoming meeting.