Approved E-Bike Ordinance

8/5/2025 | Posted in: News

CITY OF DARIEN 
DU PAGE COUNTY, ILLINOIS      
ORDINANCE NO.O-38-25
 
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 10 “BICYCLES, LOW-SPEED ELECTRIC BICYCLES AND PERSONAL MOBILITY DEVICES” TO TITLE 9 OF THE “TRAFFIC REGULATIONS” OF THE CITY OF DARIEN CITY CODE ADOPTED BY THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF DARIEN
THIS 4th DAY OF AUGUST, 2025                                                                                         
 Published in pamphlet form by authority of the Mayor and City Council of the City of Darien, DuPage County, Illinois, this 5th day of August, 2025    
 
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 10 “BICYCLES, LOW-SPEED ELECTRIC BICYCLES AND PERSONAL MOBILITY DEVICES” TO TITLE 9 OF THE “TRAFFIC REGULATIONS” OF THE CITY OF DARIEN CITY CODE
 
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF DARIEN, DU PAGE COUNTY, ILLINOIS, IN THE EXERCISE OF ITS HOME RULE POWERS, as follows:

CHAPTER 10 BICYCLES, LOW-SPEED ELECTRIC BICYCLES AND
PERSONAL MOBILITY DEVICES


SECTION
9-10-1      Definition
9-10-2      Obedience to Traffic-Control Devices
9-10-3      Operation of Bicycles, Low-Speed Electric Bicycles, And Personal Mobility Devices
9-10-4      Location Restrictions
9-10-5      Equipment
9-10-6      Duty of Parent or Guardian
9-10-7      Application of Chapter
9-10-8      Penalty
 
9-10-1      DEFINITION

BICYCLE

Every device propelled by human power upon which any person may ride, having two (2) tandem wheels except scooters and similar devices.

LOW-SPEED ELECTRIC BICYCLE

A bicycle equipped with fully operable pedals and an electric motor of less than 750 watts that meets the requirements of one of the following classes:
Class 1 low-speed electric bicycle means a low-speed electric bicycle equipped with a motor that provides assistance only when the rider is pedaling and that ceases to provide assistance when the bicycle reaches a speed of 20 miles per hour.
Class 2 low-speed electric bicycle" means a low-speed electric bicycle equipped with a motor that may be used exclusively to propel the bicycle and that is not capable of providing assistance when the bicycle reaches a speed of 20 miles per hour.
Class 3 low-speed electric bicycle means a low-speed electric bicycle equipped with a motor that provides assistance only when the rider is pedaling and that ceases to provide assistance when the bicycle reaches a speed of 28 miles per hour.
A "low-speed electric bicycle" is not a moped or a motor driven cycle.  Illinois Vehicle Code (625 ILCS 5/1-140.10).

PERSONAL (micromobility) MOBILITY DEVICE

An electric-powered or electric-assisted device designed to transport only one person with an electric propulsion system of less than 750 watts and that limits the maximum speed of the device to twenty (20) miles per hour or less, such as a motorized or motor-assisted scooter, motorized or motor-assisted skateboard, or any other similar devices.  Illinois Vehicle Code 625 ILCS 5/1-140.11 describes a low-speed electric scooter as a device weighing less than 100 pounds, with 2 or 3 wheels, handlebars and a floorboard that can be stood upon while riding, that is solely powered by an electric motor and human power and whose maximum speed, with or without human propulsion, is no more than 10 miles per hour. "Low-speed electric scooter" does not include a moped or motor-driven cycle. 
  
9-10-2      OBEDIENCE TO TRAFFIC-CONTROL DEVICES:
Any person operating a bicycle shall obey the instructions of official traffic signals, signs and other control devices applicable to vehicles unless otherwise directed by a police officer.
 
Wherever authorized signs are erected indicating that no right or left or "U" turn is permitted, no person operating a bicycle shall disobey the direction of any such sign, except when such person dismounts from the bicycle to make any such turn, in which event such person shall then obey the regulations applicable to pedestrians.
 
9-10-3      OPERATION OF BICYCLES, LOW-SPEED ELECTRIC BICYCLES, AND PERSONAL MOBILITY DEVICES:

  1. Riding on Bicycles, low-speed electric bicycles, and personal mobility devices

    1. A person operating a bicycle or low-speed electric bicycle shall not ride other than upon or astride the permanent and regular seat attached thereto.

    2. A person operating a bicycle or low-speed electric bicycle shall not carry any other person or persons upon such bicycle or low-speed electric bicycle other than upon a firmly attached and regular seat designed and intended for such purpose.

    3. No bicycle, low-speed electric bicycle, or personal mobility device shall be used to carry more than one (1) person unless specifically designed for more than one (1) person.

  2. Speed
    No person shall operate a bicycle, low-speed electric bicycle, or personal mobility device at a speed greater than is reasonable and prudent under the conditions then existing, or in any case in excess of 20 MPH.

  3. Riding on Right
    Every person operating a bicycle or low-speed electric bicycle upon a public street or roadway shall ride as near to the right side thereof as practicable, exercising due care when passing a standing vehicle or one proceeding in the same direction.

  4. Emerging from Alley or Driveway
    The operator of a bicycle, low-speed electric bicycle, or personal mobility device emerging from an alley, driveway or building shall, upon approaching a sidewalk or sidewalk area extending across any alleyway, yield the right of way to all pedestrians approaching on said sidewalk area and upon entering the public street or roadway shall yield the right of way to all vehicles approaching on said street or roadway.

  5. Duty to Yield
    Whenever a person is riding a bicycle or personal mobility device upon a sidewalk, such person shall yield the right of way to any pedestrian, and shall give an appropriate signal clearly audible to such pedestrian.

  6. Clinging to Vehicles
    No person riding upon any bicycle, low-speed electric bicycle, or personal mobility device shall attach said bicycle, low-speed electric bicycle, or personal mobility device, or himself, by clinging or otherwise, to any other vehicle.

  7. Riding in a Group
    Persons operating bicycles, low-speed electric bicycles, or personal mobility devices shall ride in single file.

  8. Carrying Articles
    The use of handheld cell phones, or similar devices, while operating a low speed electric bike and/or personal mobility device is prohibited. The operator of a low speed electric bike and/or personal mobility device with handlebars shall keep both hands on the handlebars at all times.

  9. Parking
    No person shall park a bicycle, low-speed electric bicycle, or personal mobility device upon a public street or roadway, nor upon a sidewalk except as follows:

  10. On a sidewalk in a rack designed and installed for that purpose.

  11. On a sidewalk adjacent to a building with the bicycle, low-speed electric bicycle, or personal mobility device resting on its own standard, provided no part of the bicycle, low-speed electric bicycle, or personal mobility device shall be more than two and one-half feet (2 1/2') from the adjacent building.

  12. Other Vehicles Prohibited
    Electric bicycles other than low speed electric bicycles, or devices that do not meet the definition of personal mobility devices as defined in Section 9-10-1 due to being equipped with a motor of 750 watts or more, or capable of a maximum speed in excess of twenty (20) miles per hour, shall not be permitted to be operated on any public right-of-way or on any other public property within the City to include sidewalks and trails.

  13. Age Restrictions

    1. A person may not operate a Class 3 low-speed electric bicycle unless he or she is 16 years of age or older.

    2. A person may not operate a low speed scooter unless he or she is 18 years of age or older.

 9-10-4:     LOCATION RESTRICTIONS:

  1. Bicycles
    Bicycles, other than low-speed electric bicycles, may be operated on any street, sidewalk, or trail in the City.

  2. Low-Speed Electric Bicycles
    Low-speed electric bicycles shall be operated only on the street.No person shall operate a low-speed electric bicycle on any sidewalk, or trail within the City.

  3. Personal Mobility Devices
    Personal Mobility Devices may be operated on any sidewalk or trail in the City.No person shall operate a personal mobility device on any public street, roadway, or alley within the City, except where necessary to cross a street at a designated crosswalk.

 
9-10-5:     EQUIPMENT:

  1. Lamps and Reflectors
    Every bicycle, low-speed electric bicycle and personal mobility device when in use at nighttime shall be equipped with a lamp on the front which shall emit a white light visible from a distance of at least five hundred feet (500') to the front and with a red reflector on the rear which shall be visible from all distances from fifty feet (50') to three hundred feet (300') to the rear when directly in front of lawful upper beams of headlamps on a motor vehicle. A lamp emitting a red light visible from a distance of five hundred feet (500') to the rear may be used in addition to the red reflector.

  2. Brakes
    Every bicycle, low-speed electric bicycle and personal mobility device shall be equipped with a brake which will enable the operator to make the braked wheel skid on a dry, level, clean pavement.

  3. Alterations to Low-Speed Electric Bicycle or Personal Mobility Device
    No person shall knowingly modify a low-speed electric bicycle or personal mobility device to change the manufacturer’s speed capability.No person shall operate an altered low-speed electric bicycle or personal mobility device that allows the low-speed electric bicycle or personal mobility device to travel faster than the manufacturer’s speed capability.

 
9-10-6:     DUTY OF PARENT OR GUARDIAN:
It shall be unlawful for any parent or guardian to permit any minor child of which they are a parent or guardian to violate any provisions of this chapter.
 
9-10-7:     APPLICATION OF CHAPTER:
The provisions of this Chapter shall apply whenever a bicycle, low-speed electric bicycle, or personal mobility device is operated upon any public street, roadway, alley, sidewalk or other public way within the City.
  
9-10-8:     PENALTY:
Every person convicted or a violation of any provision of this Chapter shall be punished by a fine of not less than twenty-five dollars ($25.00) nor more than seven hundred fifty dollars ($750.

PASSED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF DARIEN, DU PAGE COUNTY, ILLINOIS, this 4th day of August, 2025.

AYES:                7 – Belczak, Gustafson, Kenny, Leganski, Schauer, Stompanato, Sullivan
NAYS:                0 – NONE                                                                                                             
ABSENT:           0 – NONE                                                                                                             

APPROVED BY THE MAYOR OF THE CITY OF DARIEN, DU PAGE COUNTY, ILLINOIS, this 4th day of August, 2025.

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