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Elmhurst adopts local rules for e-bikes, e-scooters and personal mobility devices to boost pedestrian safety
Summary
The council approved a committee report directing staff to draft an ordinance that expands 'walk your wheel' zones, authorizes local citations and impoundment for non‑street-legal devices, and includes parental liability and an $80 citation; the measure passed unanimously.
The Elmhurst City Council unanimously approved a Public Affairs & Safety Committee recommendation on March 2 to adopt local regulation of electric bicycles, electric scooters and other personal mobility devices focused on pedestrian safety and enforceability.
Alderman Michael Brennan, chair of the committee, said the report prioritizes public-safety fixes that the committee could implement immediately while state legislation is pending. Key elements the committee asked staff to include in the ordinance are expanding existing “walk your wheel” zones where devices are prohibited on sidewalks, authority for Elmhurst police to issue local citations and an $80 fine, parental responsibility provisions for adults who knowingly permit minors to operate restricted devices, and authority to impound non-street-legal motorized devices found on city streets.
Brennan said the local rules were scaled back so they can be implemented now without conflicting with pending state-level changes, and that the city will revisit the ordinance if Springfield enacts new standards. Chief McClean and other staff briefed the committee on current state classifications for e-bikes (Class 1–3), age restrictions for certain devices and enforcement gaps the city sought to close.
Council members emphasized public education — particularly targeting school-age riders — alongside enforcement. Alderman Nardini and others urged outreach to District 205 to help ensure young riders understand the rules before summer.
The council voted 14–0 to request ordinance language implementing the committee’s recommendations and to direct the city attorney to prepare draft regulations for future council consideration.
