Alsip mayor asks village to wait on local e-bike, e-scooter rules pending state bill

Mayor John Ryan asked the Village of Alsip on June 1 to seek legal drafting but defer any local regulations on e-bikes and e-scooters until the state finalizes Senate Bill 3484.

The mayor briefed trustees on the pending legislation and asked the village attorney to draft an ordinance for the board to consider after the state adopts a final version. According to the mayor’s summary, SB 3484 would create uniform classifications and operational standards for low-speed e-bikes, electric scooters and similar devices and clarify when high-speed devices are regulated as motor-driven cycles under the Illinois Vehicle Code. "So again, I'd like to wait and not take any action on this right now," Mayor John Ryan said.

The mayor noted provisions described to the board that would affect municipal roadway management: devices capable of exceeding 28 mph could be regulated as motor-driven cycles and thereby be subject to licensing, registration and insurance requirements; operators of certain high-speed devices would have a minimum age requirement; and e-micro-mobility devices would in general be prohibited from sidewalks and allowed on roadways of certain speed limits and where bicycle lanes exist. Retailers would be barred from misrepresenting high-speed devices as low-speed e-bikes, the mayor said.

Trustees did not vote on a local ordinance. The village will monitor the governor’s action and return with a drafted local ordinance for review only after the state language and effective date are finalized.