E-bikes and electric scooters have exploded in popularity, and many states are still figuring out how to handle them. Illinois is about to put clear rules in place.
Senate Bill 3484, signed by Governor JB Pritzker on August 26, takes effect on January 1, 2027. It sets statewide rules for e-bikes, electric scooters and other small electric rides, including who can ride them and where.
No More Riding on Sidewalks
One of the biggest changes: electric scooters can’t be ridden on sidewalks, and neither can lower-speed e-bikes. Riders will have to use streets and bike lanes instead. Low-speed e-bikes can also use paths that aren’t sidewalks.
E-Bikes Get New Classes and Age Limits
The law splits lower-speed e-bikes, those that top out at 28 mph, into three classes:
| Class | How It Works | Minimum Age |
|---|---|---|
| Class 1 | Motor helps only while you pedal, up to 20 mph | 15 |
| Class 2 | Can run on the motor alone, cuts out at 20 mph | 15 |
| Class 3 | Motor helps only while you pedal, up to 28 mph | 16 |
The Fastest E-Bikes Will Need a License
E-bikes with motors that can go faster than 28 mph are treated very differently. Riders will need a driver’s license, proof of insurance and a title. These high-speed e-bikes must be registered with the state and ridden on the road.
That’s a big change for riders of powerful e-bikes, which have become more common and more controversial.
Scooters Have Rules Too
Electric scooters are split into two types: low-speed, up to 15 mph, and high-speed, over 15 mph. Riders of both must be at least 16. Scooters that can go over 28 mph can’t be ridden faster than that on streets or in bike lanes.
Will It Change Much?
Some places already have similar rules. At the University of Illinois, for example, e-scooters and e-bikes are already banned from campus sidewalks.
A University of Illinois police spokesperson told The Daily Illini that the law focuses mostly on licensing and ownership. She added that many crashes and run-ins with pedestrians come down to “operator behavior rather than licensing or registration issues,” which police plan to address through education and enforcement.
What Riders Should Do Now
If you own an e-bike or scooter in Illinois, check its top speed and which class it falls into before January. If your e-bike can go faster than 28 mph, you’ll need to look into licensing, insurance and registration. And if a teenager in your house rides one, make sure they meet the new age limits.
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