Breaking down new Illinois e-bike, e-scooter laws
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Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias discusses new micromobility measures. Photo: Monica Eng/Axios
State lawmakers are tackling concerns over e-bike and e-scooter safety with a new bill that addresses a wide range of so called micromobility devices.
Why it matters: The measure, passed last week by the Illinois General Assembly and expected to be signed into law by Gov. JB Pritzker, standardizes the patchwork of municipal rules across the state and regulates devices that, for years, fell into no-man's-land.
What they're saying: While "convenient and affordable… Some of these devices have become faster, more powerful, and more dangerous than we could ever have imagined," Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias said at a recent press conference on the measure.
- "Some of the devices on the market today resemble motorcycles more than they do traditional bicycles."
The big picture: If signed by the governor, the bill would require licenses to operate e-motos and high-speed e-bikes, while maintaining some existing rules and even lowering the riding age for low-speed e-scooters to 16.
Here's what the changes would look like starting Jan. 1, 2027.
Between the lines: While officials plan to enforce new rules around licenses on Jan. 1, 2027, they'll focus first on education when it comes to aspects like age limits and sidewalk riding.
Of note: The Chicago Park District still bars shared e-scooters (but not private e-scooters) from the lakefront trail and the 606.
💭 Monica's thought bubble: I love that SB3484 also addresses toy cars made for kids under 8, restricting them to sidewalks and bike paths.
- In my youth, I often dreamed of driving one to school (all of two blocks) and showing up in style.