Jacksonville Council Approves E‑Bike Ordinance Allowing Citations for Sidewalk, Stop Sign Violations

The Jacksonville City Council approved an ordinance regulating low-speed electric bicycles, a move officials say clarifies enforcement and where e-bikes may operate on the city’s trail network. The action, reported Feb. 10, 2026, follows months of staff review of model ordinances and local discussion about how to balance mobility, safety and trail access.

Police Chief Doug Thomspon said the ordinance expands officers’ ability to enforce existing traffic and pedestrian-safety rules. “The ordinance will allow officers to write citations for violations of laws already in place, such as disobeying stop signs and riding on sidewalks,” Thomspon said. That language makes clear that officers may issue citations under current law when e-bike riders fail to obey stop signs or operate on sidewalks where prohibited.

Recreation Services Director Susan Baptist presented a related code amendment to align city code with new cycling technology. Baptist said the amendment would define the types of electric-assisted equipment allowed on trails and greenways and would add “Electric-assisted bicycle” to the city’s definition of a bicycle. The revision would allow electric-assisted bicycles on shared use paths and greenways unless otherwise posted and would set a default speed of 20 mph for all modes of transportation on trails and greenways. “Other communities, like Durham, Raleigh, Carrboro and Chapel Hill have taken similar action, Baptist said.”

Council members reached the ordinance after earlier meetings in late 2025 when staff presented draft language and model e-bike ordinances for review. At that meeting the council approved minutes from Nov. 17, 2025, and asked staff to prepare a concise, one-page draft while weighing enforcement mechanics such as municipal adjudication versus state processes and sample age limits used elsewhere.

The e-bike ordinance was one of several items on a busy council agenda. Aldermen approved a tax-increment financing grant of no more than $50,000 to help Hamilton’s re-roof the building at 300 East State and agreed to transfer home rule volume caps for bonds to the Western Illinois Economic Development Authority to allow other cities in the authority to access bond capacity. The council approved a $20,250,000 general fund budget within a $59,000,000 total city budget, and the appropriations ordinance accompanying the budget includes a 10-percent increase for monies that could become available during the year.

The meeting also marked the final session for City Attorney Dan Beard. Jeff Soltermann was appointed by the council to replace Beard; Soltermann becomes only the fourth city attorney for Jacksonville since the late 1970s. Other routine items included DOT appraisal approval of $79,025 for right-of-way and permanent utility easements and a previous Legistar appropriation of $250,000 from the Mobility Fee for the Loretto Road sidewalk project.

For Jacksonville residents, the new rules mean law enforcement will have clearer authority to ticket unsafe e-bike operation on streets, trails and sidewalks, and that electric-assisted bicycles will be treated explicitly in city code. Expect signage, posted speed rules on shared use paths, and follow-up rollout from city staff on the ordinance text and effective date so residents and trail users can adapt to the new regulations.