Legislation to provide universal ground rules on e-bikes passed the Illinois Senate unanimously on Wednesday and now moves to the House, where we hope a similar vote takes place. The bill, led by Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias, regulates the fastest and most high-powered e-bikes, and defines and regulates other micromobility devices, such as scooters, skateboards and unicycles. 

Good.

E-bikes, those motorized versions of the old-fashioned bicycle, whiz around streets and sidewalks, to the chagrin of many who view them as a nuisance at best and a danger at worst. 

Many who drive these bikes are capable and competent, but too often they’re young and inexperienced, a reality that has led to injuries and even deaths in the suburbs. Part of the problem is that not all of these devices are really “bikes” at all. Some can travel 30, 40, even 50 miles per hour — speeds that put them closer to motorcycles than Schwinns — yet they’ve existed in a gray area of Illinois law, neither clearly regulated as bikes nor treated like motor vehicles. That mismatch has created confusion for riders, parents and police alike. Today, Illinois does not clearly or consistently regulate higher-speed devices, but that may be about to change.

If the bill passes, anyone who wants to ride an e-bike or e-moto capable of traveling over 28 mph would be required to have a driver’s license, title, registration and insurance. Those higher-speed devices would be treated more like motor vehicles, and riders would be barred from operating those higher-speed devices above 28 mph in bike lanes, paths and similar spaces. Most importantly, riders of most micromobility devices would need to be at least 16 years old. In short, this bill would set something Illinois has lacked for years:  clear, statewide expectations for devices that have rapidly become part of everyday life.

Last September, a 17-year-old boy from Mount Prospect was killed while riding an e-bike. Police say he failed to yield at a stop sign and crashed into a pickup truck. 

This boy isn’t just a cautionary tale, he was a son, a brother, a friend, an athlete and so much more. Losses like this are exactly why the state can’t afford to leave these devices in a legal gray zone.

Some towns have already acted on their own. Elk Grove Village last July adopted rules that require e-bikers to have a valid license to drive on village streets, and they can only ride on roads that have a speed limit less than 35 mph. Mount Prospect and other nearby suburbs adopted regulations of their own in response to growing safety concerns. 

“Right now, it’s a hodgepodge of local ordinances and regulations, depending on where you live. That inconsistency is problematic because it makes roads less safe for all of us,” Giannoulias told us back then. It’s the same message he’s shared throughout this legislative push.

Reasonable people can debate how far regulation should go. Requiring licenses and insurance for certain devices could raise costs or limit access for some riders, and enforcement will matter. But the status quo is not working.

Illinois has been playing catch-up as technology outpaces the law. This legislation won’t solve every problem, but it brings clarity to a fast-changing landscape and sets a baseline for safer streets. Lawmakers in the House should finish the job.

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