Villa Park officials outline rules for e-scooters, e-bikes and high-powered e-dirt bikes

Riley, communications specialist for the Village of Villa Park, introduced a short FAQ video in which Officer Campos explained local rules for e-scooters and e-bikes.

Officer Campos said low-speed e-scooters and regular bicycles are permitted on sidewalks. "The low e-scooters are allowed on sidewalks," he said, adding that riders must "use common sense with pedestrians," yield at stop signs and otherwise operate the devices safely.

Asked about signs on the Prairie Path, Officer Campos said signs prohibiting motorized vehicles remain at major intersections such as Villa, Ardmore and Harvard but "this does not apply to e-bikes." He said e-bikes and low-speed e-scooters may be used on the Prairie Path if riders keep their speed under 15 miles per hour and yield to pedestrian traffic.

On penalties, Officer Campos said village ordinances handled through local adjudication apply: fines start at $100, are discounted to $75 if paid within 10 days, and repeat offenders can face fines that reach $750.

The village explained that a 30-mph class limit means certain scooters cannot be used on roads with posted speeds over 30 mph. "They cannot be used on roadways that exceed 30 miles an hour such as Route 83, Roosevelt Road, North Avenue," Officer Campos said. He clarified that side streets are generally acceptable for scooter use and listed major streets where street use is permitted.

Scooters and e-bikes will not be seized routinely, Officer Campos said, unless the device is involved in a criminal offense; unrecovered items left with police may be auctioned at the village's scheduled auction.

Officer Campos described differences among e-bike classes: class 1 is pedal-assist only (no throttle) and can propel riders up to about 20 mph; class 2 adds a throttle and remains under 20 mph; class 3 models have throttles that can reach higher speeds (up to about 30 mph). He showed a class 3 police bike the department uses and noted it weighs about 75 pounds and has headlights, taillights and emergency lights. "You can understand why you have to go under 15 miles an hour because... it is a heavy piece of machinery where it can do some damage on a pedestrian," he said.

For enforcement, Officer Campos said patrol vehicles have front radars that can measure speeds on the Prairie Path and Great Western Trail but that the village will usually respond to recurring "nuisance" complaints. He added that residents might see more squad-car patrols on the paths this summer.

On higher-powered e-dirt bikes, Officer Campos said models of 750 watts or higher are not allowed on the Prairie Path or the Great Western Trail. "Those are allowed on the streets of Villa Park," he said, "however, you do need a driver's license, you do need registration, and you do need insurance." Riley closed the video by urging parents to follow guidelines when purchasing these devices and wishing residents a safe summer.

The guidance given in the video references village ordinances for penalties and a local enforcement approach focused on complaint-driven speed monitoring and seasonal patrols; no formal vote or policy change was announced.