The issue regarding electric bikes has increased over the past few years, especially in Downers Grove. With 41 e-bike tragedies happening in 2023 within Illinois alone, data shows that there has been a 240 percent increase in these types of accidents. As young kids engage in collisions on the streets of their suburban neighborhoods, the need for restrictions rises simultaneously. The combination of inexperience on roads and the ability to access unlicensed, motorized bicycles in Downers Grove has resulted in the enforcement of new restrictions.
Lisa Farver, a writer for Patch, writes in her news article, “Downers Grove Seeks To Regulate E-Bikes”, published August 14, how Downers Grove is one of the first of many suburbs in the Chicagoland area to put regulations on e-bikes.
The want for restrictions is pressed as more citizens are affected by e-bike drivers. People in Downers Grove have already started pushing for change at a recent village meeting that occurred August 12.
“I’m getting tired of almost getting run over when I’m out walking,” Downers Grove citizen Scott Richards at the Downers Grove Council Meeting said. “I don’t think motorized, if anything, should be allowed on the darn sidewalks.”
Not only have motor-powered bikes become a problem in Downers Grove, but they have also been seen as controversial nationwide. The Village has been quick to respond to the growing uproar on the bikes.
According to the Downers Grove Micromobility Device Ordinance, nobody under the age of 16 is permitted to ride e-bikes. Similarly, those under the age of 18 are prohibited from driving e-scooters. In addition to these restrictions, all electric powered devices are forbidden from operating on sidewalks and roads that exceed the speed limit of 35mph.
The laws have already been set and have been enforced in Downers Grove. E-bike riders who are affected by the new policies feel the new set of rules may be too harsh
“One time me and my friends rode our e-bikes to a park and we got stopped by the county patrol,” freshman Matt Ungeran said. “They told us we couldn’t ride our bikes in the park. We weren’t even riding them, we were just standing there.”
However, opinions differ throughout the community. Other people throughout the village feel different. Many believe that the new regulations are just, considering their experiences with e-bikes.
“I was at McDonald’s going through the driveway,” junior Mehr Tiwana said. “This group of boys on their e-bikes began to chase me through the parking lot. I’d say they were like 11 or 12 years old.”
