Electric Scooter Safety Information
While electric-powered scooters are a fun and efficient way to travel, they can be dangerous. Below you can find information about e-scooter regulations, safety tips, what the City is doing, and what you can do to help promote e-scooter safety.
E-Scooter Rules/Regulations
Why doesn't the City have an rules regarding e-scooter use? Currently, there is no Illinois state law in place addressing the vast array of electric conveyances (powered scooters, unicycles, Segways, etc.) that have increased in popularity in the last 10+ years. The law does not require or prohibit riding them on or off the roadway, for example, or confine people of a certain age to one or the other. Since the City’s local ordinances generally follow state statutes, the City does not currently have rules or regulations in place regarding electric device use.
E-Scooter Safety Tips
The Lake Forest Police Department has a few reminders for parents and guardians to share with their children about how to ride an e-scooter safely in Lake Forest:
1. Wear a helmet. The best way to protect yourself is to wear a helmet.
2. Look both ways before riding through any kind of intersection. Stop and look for turning cars when crossing the street or a driveway. Be careful at crosswalks and intersections.
3. Walk your scooter in the Central Business District. To avoid collisions with pedestrians, please walk scooters and bikes in the Central Business District.
4. Avoid distractions. Do not use electronic devices, including ear buds, headphones or phones, while operating your scooter.
5. Ride solo. Only one person per scooter.
6. Be respectful of others. Sound the bell attached to your scooter, announce yourself, or dismount and walk when passing a pedestrian.
Thanks for sharing these reminders with your children and helping keep Lake Forest a safe place for everyone!
Safety Videos
We teamed up with Chicago Bears Mascot Staley, School Resource Officer Maj, and the CROYA staff to share tips for riding e-scooters and bikes safely in Lake Forest.
What the City is Doing
Since there are currently no regulations regarding e-scooter use, the City has been encouraging scooter safety as part of a public education campaign. Here are a few components of that plan:
- When possible, a Community Service Officer will be positioned along Deerpath Road and key traffic hot spots before and after school to help encourage scooter and bike riders to follow safety guidelines.
- Collaborating with CROYA to create social media videos promoting scooter safety that are geared at a younger demographic.
- Similar to how walk your bike signs were installed a few years ago, the City installed “Walk your wheels” sidewalk decals in the Central Business District.
-“Stop & look both ways” sidewalk stencils were installed at street and driveway crossings near schools in Lake Forest to remind walkers, bikers, and e-scooter riders to stop at intersections.
- Sharing safety tips in the City’s weekly email newsletter (sign up for eNews) and in the quarterly Dialogue Newsletter.
- Partnering with Lake Forest School District 67 and 115 to get messaging about scooter safety shared with students and parents.
What You Can Do
While we continue to promote scooter safety across the City’s channels, we need your help to reach the widest audience.
- Parents: If your child rides an e-scooter, please review the safety guidelines with them and encourage your child to wear a helmet.
- e-Scooter and e-Bike Riders: Please follow the safety tips and encourage your friends to do the same.
- Drivers: Please be alert and watch for pedestrians, scooters, and bikes, especially in the morning before school starts and in the afternoons after school dismissal.
Additional Resources