Statewide standards for E-bikes, E-motos and other electric devices protect riders, pedestrians and motorists

Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias announced that Governor JB Pritzker has signed landmark legislation establishing Illinois’ first comprehensive, statewide safety standards for high-speed e-bikes, e-motos and other electric micromobility devices.

The new law closes regulatory safety gaps, establishes long-overdue rules for rapidly evolving technology and equips communities with consistent rules to better protect riders, pedestrians and motorists.

With the Governor’s signature, Illinois now has uniform, statewide standards governing high-speed micromobility devices, replacing a patchwork of local ordinances and closing regulatory gaps that left some of the fastest and most powerful devices largely unregulated. The law takes effect January 1, 2027.

“As these high-powered devices become faster and more common on our streets and sidewalks, the stakes are simply too high to leave them unregulated and outpacing public safety,” Giannoulias said. “This law brings accountability and common-sense safety standards to our roads while helping prevent serious injuries and ensuring riders, parents and communities understand how to safely share the road.”

Giannoulias thanked Governor JB Pritzker for signing the legislation, along with State Sen. Ram Villivalam and State Rep. Barbara Hernandez for sponsoring the measure. He also recognized the broad coalition of stakeholders who helped shape the measure, including the Illinois Municipal League, Illinois High School and College Driver Education Association, Ride Illinois, the Active Transportation Alliance, Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police, ABATE and Lurie Children’s Hospital.

“Transportation technology will continue to evolve, and Illinois needs a framework that protects people without standing in the way of innovation,” Villivalam said. “This legislation replaces a patchwork of local approaches with statewide standards, giving municipalities and law enforcement a more consistent system to work with. I thank Secretary Giannoulias for making this issue a priority and bringing stakeholders together to get this done.”

“Parents and young riders deserve to know what they are operating and what responsibilities come with it,” Hernandez said. “This law provides that clarity while establishing commonsense standards designed to prevent dangerous situations. I’m proud to have worked with Secretary Giannoulias and my colleagues to make Illinois roads safer for everyone.”

Prior to this law, Illinois had no statewide regulations governing micromobility devices capable of exceeding 28 miles per hour, even as some devices reached speeds of more than 70 miles per hour. At the same time, micromobility-related injuries and fatalities nationwide surged 300 percent between 2019 and 2022, underscoring the need for stronger safety standards and oversight.

The new law draws a clear distinction between bicycles and lower-speed e-bikes and higher-powered e-bikes, which are often more like motorcycles. Illinois will maintain its existing three-class e-bike structure, which covers pedal bicycles with electric motors up to 750 watts that travel between 20 and 28 mph – a framework already used in 46 other states.

The new law will:

• Require riders of e-bikes and e-motos capable of traveling over 28 mph to have a driver’s license, title, registration and insurance.
• Prohibit e-bikes and micromobility devices such as e-scooters, electric skateboards and electric unicycles from operating on sidewalks and prohibit them from operating over 28 mph on roads, bike lanes and bike paths.
• Establish minimum age requirements for riders of electric micromobility devices, including requiring riders of Class 1 and Class 2 e-bikes (capable of traveling up to 20 mph) to be at least 15 years old and riders of Class 3 e-bikes and other covered electric micromobility devices to be at least 16 years old.
• Establish statewide consistency by replacing the current patchwork of local ordinances that vary widely from one municipality to another and provide police with the tools they need to enforce the law.