Morton Grove’s consideration of new rules on the use of electronic bicycles, joins a growing number of Chicagoland municipalities looking at putting the brakes – or at least some regulations – on them.

The proposed regulations provide legal status and guidelines for the use of e-bikes, which were prohibited on public roads and sidewalks in Morton Grove ahead of final consideration Tuesday night of an ordinance change first proposed last month.

Village Administrator Chuck Meyer said the proposed ordinance takes cues from what has worked – or may be in the works – in surrounding communities.

“Our police department did a very deliberate review of it, and they kind of looked at what is done in different communities, what state law is, and tried to reflect the current environment,” said Meyer.

At the July 22 Village Board meeting, village trustees listened intently to a presentation about e-bikes, their historical use in the village, gaining popularity, at least one resident’s concerns about them and more.

The issue was on the Tuesday night agenda – ahead of press time – for a final vote.

The use of electric bikes – which are essentially bikes with a small motor – and similar vehicles have been prohibited since the mid-2000s in the north suburb. The text of the proposed ordinance trustees are considering states that recently, “Morton Grove has experienced a rise in the prevalence and use” of e-bikes.

One resident, concerned with the unregulated use of e-bikes, shared his own experience after a neighbor’s child proved to be too short to be seen through the resident’s car rear window. The child was riding an e-bike.

“So, I am very concerned about this [issue], and I’d like to see what we can do about it,” he said.

Meyer said at the July meeting that village leaders would be revising the part of the proposed ordinance related to age limits. As originally written, the ordinance restricts e-bike use to riders age 18 and older with a driver’s license. But, Meyer said it would be changed to follow state law where the minimum age is 16.

“So if you are old enough and have the ability to get a driver’s license, to drive a vehicle, you would also be able to use these e-bikes,” he said.

Meyer said a major component of implementing the new rules – upon approved – is going to be pushing an education campaign. He said for about the first month, the focus will be on helping people, particularly children and parents, understand the new rules and who they apply to.

“So, our police department I think is already gearing up for speaking to schools and making educational materials,” Meyer said.

The language of the ordinance does not list any specific penalties or fines, but Trustee John Thill had a question about a $500 impoundment “fee” within the text.

“If I get caught running a red light, I get a ticket. It’s nowhere near $500,” Thill said.

Meyer said the fee was not the same as a fine meant to be punitive, but that it was merely to cover the village’s costs. He compared it to the fee someone would face if they had their car impounded.

“The chief will tell me if I’m wrong on this, but for running a red light, usually it would not lead to that,” said Meyer. “Our intention is not to impound these devices, it is to educate people, and I would view that as a last resort.”

Police Chief Mike Weitzel spoke up in July to clarify what role the police department would play in educating people on the dangers of children using e-bikes.

“It’s an accepted behavior by a lot of folks in town, and we truly want to educate them as to why this is dangerous.“ Weitzel said. “We are certainly not trying to make enemies of the children of Morton Grove.”

Village attorney Teresa Hoffman Liston said adopting new rules would not result in any kind of crackdown.

“Right now, none of these are allowed at all, anywhere on sidewalks, on streets, at all,” Hoffman Liston said at the July meeting. “And you don’t see the police department going up and arresting children.”

But she also did not want to rule out enforcement measures altogether.

“And I wouldn’t want to have some blanket policy saying everybody gets a pass for a month,” Hoffman Liston said.

Liston explained that people have not had much regard for the fact ebikes have had prohibitions in Morton Grove for years. She said some people “just don’t seem to care that they’re prohibited, period. Much less regulated.”

Alan Kozeluh is a freelancer.

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/08/12/morton-grove-regulating-electric-bikes/