Wilmette Residents In Favor Of E-Bike Regulations: Survey

WILMETTE, IL — An official survey conducted by village officials revealed that a majority of Wilmette residents are in favor of implementing e-bike and e-scooter regulations.

At the Village Board's Jan. 27 meeting, officials decided to launch a community survey to solicit input from residents to inform their decision on a new ordinance. The proposed ordinance would regulate the speed and location at which e-bikes and other motorized mobility vehicles can operate.

The survey was open from Feb. 10 through March 20 and contained 14 questions. It received a total of 592 survey responses, with 97 percent of respondents indicating they were residents of Wilmette.

According to the survey results, 80 percent of respondents don't use an electric mobility device. Of the 20 percent of residents who said they do use an e-mobility device, most were between the ages of 31-55 and 56+ and primarily use them for leisure rather than commuting.

Most respondents, 81 percent, indicated that they think e-mobility devices that are capable of going faster than 10 mph should be limited to riders 16 years of age and older. Most people also think that e-bikes and e-scooters should be prohibited on sidewalks. A little over half of respondents think both devices should be allowed on trails and paths at a low speed.

The Village Board is expected to vote on the new regulations at its April 28 meeting.

See also: Wilmette Board Discusses Implementing E-Bike Regulations