Children’s use of e-bikes under scrutiny in Palmyra

Published 4:54 pm Saturday, June 6, 2026

PALMYRA — This week the Palmyra City Council grappled with a dilemma, struggling to establish a united policy on e-bike usage in Flower City Park, in particular, and the use of powerful transportation devices by young teenagers more broadly.

Collectively, e-bikes, e-scooters, and similar transportation platforms are now commonly referred to as “micromobility devices,” though the members of the council never used the term.

They spent about 20 minutes in a free-flowing discussion of the issue on Thursday evening.

The council proposed that Police Chief Michael Baker might begin pulling over underaged teenagers, possibly impounding their e-bikes, speaking to their parents, and escalating punishments for repeat offenders.

The council also discussed that clear policies needed to be established about using micromobility devices on the walking paths within Flower City Park and the necessity of posting signs along the paths to inform the public.

The council will further discuss the issue at their next meeting in two weeks.

“We are very concerned about the safety of the children,” said Rex Thomas, a 3rd Ward council member, after the meeting. “That’s really the main issue.”

In Illinois

Illinois is presenting a framework to regulate high-speed e-bikes and other micromobility devices.

Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias held a press conference Thursday to discuss e-bikes.

“As micromobility devices have become more common in our neighborhoods and on our roads, our laws have struggled to keep up… They operate in a legal gray area with little or no regulation,” he said.

Giannoulias said that it is time for policymakers to grapple with the issue because, “As we all know, they’re here to stay.”

Popular across the United States

Indeed, micromobility devices such as e-scooters and e-bikes are surging in popularity across the United States as affordable, convenient alternatives for short trips.

Shared micromobility systems recorded 171 million trips in the United States in 2024, according to the North American Bikeshare & Scootershare Association, with e-bike ridership growing especially fast.

Proponents cite the ability to dodge traffic congestion as a key draw.

Many trips replace short car rides, cutting emissions and fuel costs. Planners say the devices appeal to commuters, students, and tourists seeking flexible, eco-friendly options.

However, the drawbacks of the new transportation technologies are also considerable.

States and cities are being forced to confront policy questions as inadequate infrastructure and severe crash risks collide with growing ridership.

A 2020 study by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety found that nearly 60% of e-scooter injuries occurred on sidewalks.

In some communities, dedicated lanes, protected bike paths, or clear separation from cars and pedestrians simply do not exist.

Without safe places to ride, users tend to crowd sidewalks, weave through traffic, or improvise on uneven roads, heightening dangers for riders, walkers, and drivers alike.

The Governors Highway Safety Association has highlighted this infrastructure gap as a core policy challenge.

Medical professionals note that risks have been rising.

Also speaking at the press conference featuring Giannoulias, was Dr. Kristine Cieslak, section chief for pediatric emergency medicine at Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago, who noted that “we have seen a dramatic increase in the number of injuries due to falls while riding e-bikes and e-scooters over the past five years. These injuries are far more serious than the injuries that we were traditionally seeing with manually-powered bikes and scooters.”

Such injury concerns are significant enough that the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that children under 16, who are too young to have a driver’s license, should not be allowed to operate or ride on motorized or e-scooters.

They further advise that those over age 16 who ride e-scooters should follow safety practices: wear a helmet, closed-toe shoes, and protective gear such as elbow and knee pads and reflective gear; use both hands to operate the scooter; and avoid wearing earbuds to be more aware of the surroundings.