A 19-year-old man died Tuesday after the electric bicycle he was riding collided with a passenger vehicle near Belmont Avenue and George Street in Franklin Park. Emergency crews took him to a nearby hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.
Franklin Park police told local reporters the crash happened at the intersection of Belmont and George and that the 19-year-old rider was transported to the hospital before he was pronounced dead. The driver of the other vehicle stayed at the scene while officers investigated, and police say the cause of the collision is still unclear. Those details come from WGN-TV, which first reported the incident.
Where It Happened And Local Planning Under Way
The crash took place on a section of roadway that sits inside a corridor the village has been working to redesign for several years. The Village of Franklin Park has scheduled an open house on June 26 to present Grand Avenue and George Street safety improvements that are intended to make crossings safer for people walking and biking. The broader Grand Avenue Corridor Plan includes proposals such as new traffic signals, added turn lanes and streetscape changes that planners say are aimed at cutting down on conflicts between vehicles and people on bikes.
What Illinois Law Says About E-Bikes
Under Illinois law, low-speed electric bicycles are defined as bicycles with fully operable pedals and an electric motor of less than 750 watts. The statute groups legal e-bikes into three classes that determine where they can be ridden and, for some classes, minimum rider ages. The Illinois Vehicle Code sets out these definitions, and local governments can layer on additional rules for streets, trails and parks. Devices that exceed the limits in state law may be regulated differently for licensing or registration.
Why Planners Have Focused On Grand Avenue
Franklin Park has been working with the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning (CMAP) on a Grand Avenue corridor plan that identifies trouble spots and potential fixes. CMAP project materials note that the plan, which the village has adopted, centers on improving transportation safety and making Grand Avenue more walkable and bike friendly. Designers and planners say tools such as shorter crossing distances, clearer turn lanes and adjusted signal timing can help reduce collisions at busy intersections like Belmont and George.
Investigation Status
Franklin Park police say the crash is still under investigation and have not released the rider’s name, according to WGN-TV. Officials have not publicly announced any charges connected to the collision.
The village’s planning team is scheduled to present proposed changes at the June 26 open house at the police station community room. We will update this report as authorities release more information about the crash and the ongoing investigation.
