Devices powered by more than 750-watt batteries are now prohibited in village limits
As of last week, electric bikes powered by batteries rated 750 watts and higher are no longer permitted in the village.
"Some of these ebikes are upwards of 2,500 watts," Trustee Luke Stifflear said in introducing proposed changes to village ordinance at the May 21 Hinsdale Village Board meeting.
One area of concern are high-performance dirt bikes that can travel more than 50 mph, Deputy Chief Tom Lillie wrote in a memo to trustees.
"Riders have been witnessed with inadequate supervision, no knowledge of the rules of the road and (they) operate these motorbikes like competitive motocross riders," he wrote.
The devices are being advertised as electric bicycles but are most closely related to a motorcycle, and thus require registration and a motorcycle license endorsement, Lillie wrote.
"Parents or guardians are ill-informed to the laws governing this, indifferent or defiant when their child is stopped for an egregious action," he wrote.
In addition to prohibiting these and other high-speed electric bikes, changes to the ordinance define low-speed electric bikes and personal mobility devices. It also specifies where each type of device may be operated and specifies equipment requirements.
Low-speed bicycles must be ridden in the street and are prohibited on all sidewalks.
The opposite is true for electric-powered personal mobility devices such as one-wheelers, electric skateboards and stand up scooters powered by less than a 750-watt battery that travel up to 15 mph. They are limited to sidewalk use only, except in the central business district, where they are prohibited. They also are prohibited in areas where there is no sidewalk.
"If there's no sidewalk, you're out of luck," Trustee Neale Byrnes said.
Traditional bikes, trustees noted, may be ridden on the sidewalk or in the street, except in the downtown, where they must be ridden on the street.
The ordinance prohibits the use of smart phones by riders and requires them to have both hands on the handlebars.
"A lot of these devices have throttles and the response to the throttle is jerky and quick and fast," Lillie said. "To have somebody holding a phone and operating a throttle on a scooter is just not safe."
All bicycles, low-speed electric bicycles and personal mobility devices must be equipped with a lamp on the front and a red reflector on the back when operated at night. No more than one person may be on a device unless it is specifically designed for multiple riders.
The changes to the ordinance, which trustees approved 6-0, mirror state law, Lillie noted.
"I'm all in favor of this. I think Deputy Chief Lillie did a great job putting this all together," Byrnes said. He raised a question about requiring a license tag for new bikes, not realizing that already is a requirement.
"It's so we can return the (stolen) bikes when they are recovered," Police Chief Brian King said.
Licenses should be obtained at Hinsdale Village Hall, 19 E. Chicago Ave, within 30 days of assuming ownership. There is no fee.
The ordinance states that it is unlawful for parents or guardian to permit a minor child to violate the ordinance, with fines ranging from $20 to $750. Because offenders will be cited under village ordinance, violations will not affect a 16-year-old's ability to get a drivers license.
