E-Ride Ready

Always wear a helmet when riding any kind of bike or e-ride. Studies show that helmets can reduce the severity of head and spinal injuries, hospital stays, costs and mortality. Helmets have been shown to not only reduce the risk of head and brain injuries, but also provide substantial forehead and midface protection. Helmets provide a 66% to 88% reduction in the risk of severe head and brain injuries for bicyclists of all ages (reference). It is estimated that 75% of bicycle-related fatalities among children could be prevented by wearing bicycle helmets (reference).

In Oak Park, e-rides are not permitted on any sidewalks, including both residential and business-district sidewalks. Riding e-rides on sidewalks is not only illegal, but dangerous for riders and pedestrians.

E-rides are only allowed on the roadways. It’s best to ride in a bike lane if one is available. Riding in the bike lanes reduces the risk of collision, lessens the stress of navigating mixed traffic and increases rider predictability, a big factor in best cycling practices. In addition to bike lanes, Oak Park is creating Neighborhood Greenways, a network of low-traffic, residential streets that are more ideal for cyclists than major throughfares with heavy car traffic.

Click here for a map of even more cycling-friendly infrastructure throughout Oak Park.

If there is not a bike lane or greenway available, use best practices for safe cycling on the road.

• Tips for riders from Ride Illinois
• Illinois Bicycle Rules of the Road

There’s more to navigating roadways on e-rides than bike lanes and greenways. The League of American cyclists have developed best practices for lane positioning, turning, lane changing and navigating traffic lights and intersections.

Click here to learn more and follow the rules of the road.

Don’t double up! One device, one rider. Carrying additional passengers can affect balance, steering and braking.  This makes crashes more likely and increases the risk of serious injury for all passengers.

E-bike and e-scooter accidents result in more serious injuries than traditional cycling

• A study of e-ride injuries in Illinois from 2021 – 2023 showed that compared to regular cycling, users of electric devices were significantly more likely to be admitted to hospital, to be admitted to the intensive care, and to present with a traumatic brain injury.
• Using traditional cyclists as a reference group, the proportion of injuries with skull fractures and traumatic brain injuries were nearly double for e-scooter injuries  and more than triple for e-bike injuries

In recent years, the number of people being admitted to ERs because of e-ride accidents has increased dramatically

• According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission database, the rate of e-bike injuries increased by 293% and the rate of powered scooter injuries increased by 88% from 2019 to 2022.
• An analysis of the National Electronic Surveillance System database found that annual e-bike injuries increased 31-fold and e-scooter injuries increased 6.6-fold between 2017 and 2022. In that same time period, there were an estimated 360,800 emergency department visits and at least 233 deaths (5 in 2017; 76 in 2022) associated with e-rides.

Children are getting injured from e-ride accidents at a disproportional rate

• Children 14 years and younger accounted for about 36% of e-ride injuries from 2017 to 2022, double their 18% proportion of the U.S. population.

With an increase in e-rides, drivers also have a responsibility to share the road and drive safely with e-rides in the mix.

Stay alert. E-riders can be harder to spot than cars, especially at intersections or in low-light conditions. Check your blind spots. Be extra cautious when turning.

Give space. Treat e-riders like you would cyclists. Leave at least three feet of space when passing them and never tailgate.

Anticipate sudden moves. Many e-riders, especially children, may not signal their intentions or follow traffic rules consistently. Be prepared for sudden stops or turns.

Slow down in neighborhoods. Kids often ride e-bikes and e-scooters in residential areas. Reduce your speed and stay vigilant for young riders who may dart into the road.

Avoid Distractions. Put your phone away and focus on the road. A moment of distraction can have serious consequences when sharing the road with vulnerable riders.

• Click here for more tips for motorists from Ride Illinois 

While e-rides present safety challenges, more people are choosing them as a transportation option. If both e-riders and drivers take care to ride safely using best practices, we can reduce injuries and fatalities from e-rides in our communities.

Mobility

For some residents, including low-income individuals and people with disabilities, e-rides can provide a transportation option when access to a personal vehicle or other mobility options is limited.

E-rides make car-free transportation more accessible by reducing the physical effort required to travel longer distances, climb hills, or carry groceries and other items.

Sustainability

Some residents are prioritizing reducing their carbon footprint and seeking transportation options that minimize the impact on the environment and greenhouse gas emissions. E-rides provide a more sustainable option for traveling around town.