>> Summer >> months mean it's easier for some folks to get around on fewer wheels ridership on the city's e-scooters hit a record high last year.

But the convenient mode of transportation along with e-bikes isn't always the safest making state and local lawmakers push for new safety regulations joining us to talk more about this, our Dave Simmons, executive director of Ride, Illinois, a nonprofit that aims to promote safe and accessible right and Alderwoman 20 minute hop and worth of the 48th word on the city's north side which includes neighborhoods like Edgewater and Andersonville.

Thanks to both for joining us.

so there are a variety of e-bikes and scooters otherwise known as micromobility vehicles used nationwide.

What are some of the difference is that these devices, you know, will show and where some of them used?

Sure.

Yeah.

In Illinois and 45 other states recognize 3 classes of e-bikes.

>> And so a class one and class to e-bikes have a maximum speed of 20 miles an hour.

The difference a class.

One has pedal assist means a user has to be pedaling class 2 as a throttle so it it can go without the use of peddling a class.

3, a similar too, a class one.

It just has a higher maximum speed, which is 28 miles an hour.

where can we use them?

Bike lanes, sidewalks, streets, bike lanes for sure.

no.

I don't know if we'll talk about the legislation that that is in Springfield.

So currently they can be used in bike lanes.

They can use on bike trails, not on sidewalks, on sidewalks and we will get to that legislation shortly.

Other woman, the U.S.

Consumer Product Safety Commission released new data earlier this year stating that emergency room visits have nearly quadrupled since 2017.

>> Chicago has seen also, sadly, at least 3 e-scooter related deaths this year alone.

Given these numbers, do you believe these vehicles to be safe?

>> Firstly, I I'm a physical therapist who so I have seen in the emergency room MS its deaths and it's also permanent injuries that happen between motorized vehicles and pedestrians and what we're saying is that we want all of our streets to be organized so that no matter how you get around, whether you're in a car or on a bike or on a scooter, you understand where to go.

And so all of this is about safety at the end of the day, everybody is a pedestrian.

So that's our paramount for us.

>> Dave, many of these injuries and deaths caused by cars and trucks.

Is it a matter of, you know, drivers lacking awareness of these additional vehicles and their increased use or scooter and e-bike riders needing more guardrails.

>> I would say both right.

The popularity of these devices really increased over the last few years.

So there is still some getting used to like sharing the space with with motor vehicles and devices.

Certainly there's plenty of drivers are still distracted by devices on not.

So I think it does kind hit on both of those of the users need to be aware they need to be defensive.

You know, when when they're riding do certain things kind keep themselves safe.

And then motorists need to realize that they are sharing the bike lanes.

You know, that may be adjacent to the road with vulnerable road users who don't have the same protection that they have in their vehicles.

>> woman in Chicago, Department of Transportation launched a new e-scooter safety campaign this year as ridership reach that record high in 2025. is this campaign.

Do you think it's enough to promote e-scooters safety or is more needed?

>> More is needed because it's a change.

In culture, we have to start at youngest levels in our schools, for CDOT does have a safe streets.

Ambassador program that we are also engaging with, but it's everybody.

It's not just the users who use the scooters and bikes, but also.

The cars and our streets are made for speed.

And that's the way it So until we address the behavior of the people who are using the roads.

We we also have to address the policies that have we have in place and also the infrastructure because right now it is such that cars have.

They have the right away most of the time, the way that our streets are built.

And what we're saying is that every single intersection should be safe no matter where it is in the city of Chicago, you should feel like you you be you could be able to cross the road and not feel like you're going to get hit very much.

A car culture very much Dave right.

Illinois recently worked to help pass a bill and in the General Assembly.

As you mentioned, that works to set consistent safety measures and tools for micro mobility.

>> Vehicles, what with that legislation too?

>> Yeah, it's going to separate between one of the main things separate between e-bikes and what's known as a do, which are these kind they look like motorcycles very popular teens and preteens, boys in particular.

So it'll differentiate between those devices.

It will set a minimum age for users of legal e-bikes, the class.

1, 2, 3 that I mentioned earlier also require faster speed devices.

Those that can go faster than 20 miles an hour will be required to have used be kind of a driver's license insurance and registration.

So recognizing these as suitable means in practical ways to get around.

But also acknowledging there's some safety concerns and that maybe kids under 16 shouldn't be using these devices and specifically suitors.

The age lecture reduced from 18 to 16 for e-scooters.

But that still is a man with age of 16.

So those under that age really shouldn't be using those devices.

Why?

28 miles an hour, aligns with the classes of the e-bikes.

mentioned earlier and old which they can travel OK or says research at about accidents over 20 miles an hour.

Yeah, I think the bill is a big step in the right direction.

It's not perfect.

I think we're going to see a companion bills introduced in the General Assembly this year.

Maybe some right-sizing some fine tuning of this.

This this issue, this topic will not be going I'm Other woman, your ward, you recently enacted fencing along a section of Sheridan in Edgewater and blocks rental e-scooters from being used on the street and the sidewalks.

>> How does that work and hasn't been effective.

>> So there are parts of Sheridan.

Road is one of the densely populated road streets in Chicago.

And so what we're saying is that because it's the entrance to lakefront trail.

It's very, very busy.

There are already parts sharing road that is in no rides zone for for mobility devices and scooters.

What we're saying is all of Sheridan Road should not be subjected to.

To scooters on the sidewalks because it is a very pedestrian friendly ward.

We want people to be able to age in place and to be able to walk around no matter how they get around.

We have a lot of older folks that live on Sheridan Road.

Also.

and there have been complaints about high speed bicyclist and also scooters.

Right now we have the ability to G offense.

The area so that the scooters slow down as they approach Sheridan Road and eventually stop, right, right, because that the traffic along that section as well can be can be very congested.

And can't imagine scooter.

>> On the road right there.

yeah.

So so this is just one measure that we're talking about because all of Sheridan Road we need to think about safety generally.

This is stretch of Sheridan Road that had 2 pedestrian versus.

Cta buses and Loyola is just to the north of Sheridan Road.

We have a lot of students.

We have a lot of visitors.

So when you come into Edgewater on Sheridan Road, we want people to understand how to move around and we want also you to be able to walk around and feel safe walking and not feel like you're going to get hit because we have a lot of older adults that live in the area and those with disabilities a fall could be, you know, it could lead to permanent disability or or fatalities.

So we don't want that.

We don't want to end lives early.

This is all about safety.

Linemen does start.

Go ahead, David, you can add I do.

We've got a minute left but linemen Diddy, of course they are 2 of the popular e-bike and e-scooter.

>> Rental companies in Chicago.

Dave, what responsibility do you think these these companies should bear for safety?

>> I know the minimum age is one thing that they've they've tried to address some sort of age verification, some education for the users as well.

I think the assumption is that these things are phone and people just hop on and go.

But they do move You know, people bright with more than one person.

There are some kind of logical safety precautions could be taken.

And they really at the end of the day need to be looking out for the people that they're they're riding near by at back to the only ones point about safety that need to be looking after others.

And that's a good place to leave it.