Chicago suburb cracks down on 'dangerous' e-bike riders

Elk Grove Village mayor, others cracking down on e-bike regulations

A suburban mayor is getting out in front of what he is calling a "dangerous issue" before it gets worse.

ELK GROVE VILLAGE, Ill. - Elk Grove Village officials are speaking out after a group of young people riding e-bikes and dirt bikes created a "dangerous situation" in the suburb.

The suburb, on July 1, implemented a new ordinance aimed at addressing the misuse of e-bikes in the village—and now, they are cracking down. 

What we know:

As e-bikes surge in popularity, several suburbs are hitting the brakes.

Police said more than a dozen minors rode e-bikes through the village on Monday, running red lights, weaving through traffic and breaking several laws. Officials shared surveillance images from the incident, which unfolded outside of Village Hall. 

"About 20, what we call mini dirt bikes, were going down Biesterfield Road, went through the light and everything," said Elk Grove Village Mayor Craig Johnson. 

According to police, the riders fled from officers when they tried to stop them.

"Every town’s had enough of it. They’re fed up. And the bottom line is this — it’s all about safety," Johnson said. "Someone's going to get killed. We don't want that to happen in Elk Grove."

The warning comes days after a new ordinance was implemented that requires all e-bike riders to provide a valid driver's license when riding on village streets. They must also obey the rules of the road and stay on streets with speed limits below 35 mph. 

E-bikes are not permitted on public sidewalks, but electric scooters are — as long as riders follow proper safety rules. To utilize an electric scooter on the roads in Elk Grove Village, a driver's license is required. 

Riders who violate the rules could be subject to fines between $50 and $200.

Five of the minors from this week's incident were identified and ticketed, Johnson said. One of them, he added, drove several miles to get there. 

"Unlicensed all the way from Hanover Park into Elk Grove, so these are not just little harmless things, these are full-sized, operating machines that should be licensed by the state and controlled by people that know how to use them, i.e., a driver's license," Johnson said. 

Johnson adds that juveniles who are caught violating the ordinance will be held with police until they are picked up by a parent or guardian. 

What they're saying:

Many community members, including Amy Tripp, are welcoming the new limits.

"There needs to be some safety and regulation on that," Tripp said. 

Tripp said she's seen juveniles operating motorized vehicles at high speeds; one, she says, almost knocked over her friend's daughter near a local park. 

"And [the riders] are not looking out because they are thinking they are pedestrians, but then the people driving are having to worry about these quick and fast. It's an accident waiting to happen," Tripp said. 

What you can do:

Elmhurst, Glen Ellyn, Hinsdale, and Schaumburg are just some of the suburbs that have passed similar ordinances.

For more information on e-bike restrictions in Elk Grove Village, click HERE.