Hinsdale Bans 'Falsely Advertised' E-Bikes

HINSDALE, IL – Hinsdale trustees on Tuesday banned the use of bicycles with electric motors over 750 watts, among other regulations.

This was in response to the police department's concern with high-performance dirt bikes with such engines.

"These devices can propel a rider over 50 mph and are falsely advertised as electric bicycles," Deputy Police Chief Thomas Lillie said in a memo.

Such bikes are closely related to a motorcycle, which requires a license endorsement as part of driver's license privileges, Lillie said.

"Parents or guardians are ill-informed to the laws governing this, indifferent, or defiant when their child is stopped for an egregious action," Lillie said.

In a unanimous vote, the Village Board approved the ban and other rules.

Under the new regulations, electric bikes can only be ridden on streets, not sidewalks. They cannot exceed 15 mph.

Human-powered bikes can be used on sidewalks or streets, but only on streets downtown.

Electric-powered devices such as scooters, skateboards and one-wheels must be used on sidewalks (except downtown), yielding to pedestrians.

Trustees debated whether to specifically bar bicyclists from using phones while riding.

Trustee Luke Stifflear said it was a fair addition to the code.

"I've had one of Chief (Brian) King's finest write me a ticket for holding (a phone)," he said.

The village has long had a rule that bicyclists keep both hands on the handlebars. Trustees said that would handle the phone issue.

Police said they plan an education campaign for the new rules.