The Naperville Police Department reports it has seen an increase in dangerous and illegal e-bike usage over the summer. Officials say the popularity of these devices has grown not only in the city but across the nation.
“I’ve said many different times around many different topics: if Naperville is experiencing it, it’s generally something we see around the country. So I don’t think this is a new thing locally; I think just nationally, the usage of e-bicycles is picking up,” said Naperville Police Chief Jason Arres.
What is an e-bike?
An electric bike, or e-bike, is similar to a traditional bicycle, but is equipped with an electric motor, battery, and system to assist the rider when pedaling. Low-speed e-bikes require fully operable pedals and a motor of less than 750 watts.
In Illinois, there are three low-speed e-bike classifications:
- Class 1: Motor assists only when the rider pedals and stops at 20 mph
- Class 2: Motor can be used without pedaling, but stops at 20 mph
- Class 3: Motor assists only when pedaling and stops at 28 mph
- Class 3 e-bikes also require a speedometer, according to the NPD
Naperville police report an increase in e-bike-related calls
With the uptick in usage, the NPD says e-bike-related calls have also increased over the past year…