Illinois E-Bike and E-Scooter Law Starts January 1, 2027: What DuPage Drivers Should Know
A new Illinois e-bike and e-scooter law takes effect January 1, 2027, about two months from now. Governor JB Pritzker signed Senate Bill 3484 on August 26, 2026, and it became Public Act 104-0854. The law sets statewide rules for e-bikes, e-motos, e-scooters, electric skateboards and electric unicycles: who can ride them, where they can go and which ones need a driver’s license. For drivers in Naperville, Wheaton, Glen Ellyn and Lombard, it changes who shares the road with you.
What the new law does
According to the Illinois Secretary of State’s office, which pushed for the bill, Illinois had no statewide rules for micromobility devices that can go faster than 28 mph, even though some can reach more than 70 mph. The new law replaces a patchwork of local ordinances with one set of statewide standards.
As these devices become faster and more common, “the stakes are simply too high to leave them unregulated and outpacing public safety,” Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias said when the bill was signed.
Here are the main changes, based on the text of Public Act 104-0854:
- Low-speed e-bikes keep three classes. Class 1 (pedal assist) and Class 2 (throttle) e-bikes stop assisting at 20 mph, and Class 3 (pedal assist) at 28 mph, all with a motor under 750 watts. Riders must be at least 15 for Class 1 and 2 and at least 16 for Class 3.
- No e-bikes on sidewalks. The law says a person may not operate a low-speed e-bike on a sidewalk.
- Faster e-bikes are treated like motor driven cycles. An e-bike that does not fit the low-speed classes is considered a motor driven cycle. Riders need a valid driver’s license, and these machines are barred from sidewalks, bike lanes, bike paths, shared-use paths and interstates. New ones bought on or after January 1, 2027, need a title, and the Secretary of State’s office says riders of e-bikes and e-motos capable of more than 28 mph will need a license, title, registration and insurance.
- Statewide rules for e-scooters and similar devices. Riders of e-scooters, electric skateboards and electric unicycles must be at least 16. These devices are not allowed on sidewalks, on interstates, or on roads with a speed limit over 35 mph unless there is a bike lane. A device operating faster than 28 mph is barred from public roads, bike lanes and bike paths.
- Lights and brakes. E-scooters and similar devices need a working brake, and at night a white front light visible from at least 500 feet plus a red rear reflector or red light.
The law also lets park districts and forest preserve districts regulate these devices on bike paths they manage, so trail rules can still differ.
Why this matters in DuPage County
Glen Ellyn and Lombard had already passed their own e-bike ordinances before the state acted, Glenbard Wire reported, and the new statewide law supersedes that local patchwork, although towns can still add rules. For drivers, the practical change is that more riders will be pushed off sidewalks and onto streets and bike lanes, where they are easier to predict but closer to your car.
Timing matters too. Daylight saving time ends this Sunday, November 1, so evening commutes get darker just as riders on lit scooters and e-bikes share the road with you. NHTSA reports that 1,103 bicyclists were killed in traffic crashes in 2024, and says bicyclist deaths were highest from July through October.
What this means for you
Here’s our take: the rules apply to riders, but drivers can help avoid close calls. Based on NHTSA’s advice for drivers sharing the road with bicyclists:
- Do not underestimate their speed. NHTSA says to yield to bicyclists as you would to other drivers, which helps avoid turning in front of a rider at an intersection or driveway.
- Look right and behind before a right turn on red. NHTSA advises stopping completely and looking left, right, left and behind before turning right on red.
- Scan parking lots and driveways. When backing up or parking, NHTSA says to search your surroundings for other vehicles, including bikes.
- Give riders room. NHTSA says not to pass too closely, and to pass when it is safe to move into the next lane.
- Check your mirror before opening your door. With more riders in bike lanes next to parked cars, a quick look back before you open the door is a good habit.
- If there is contact, safety first. Check on the rider and call 911 if anyone is hurt. Even a low-speed brush with a handlebar or scooter can leave a dent or a scuff on a door or bumper. If the paint is intact, a door dent is often a candidate for paintless dent repair, while cracked paint or a torn bumper cover usually needs collision repair. An inspection decides which fits.
For more on safe driving this season, see our darker commutes guide and our teen driver safety update. Our team at EZ Tech Paintless Dent Removal & Collision is happy to take a look at any damage and walk you through your options. This article is general information, not legal or insurance advice.
Sources: Illinois General Assembly, “Public Act 104-0854 (SB 3484)” (effective January 1, 2027); Office of the Governor, “Gov. Pritzker Takes Bill Action” (August 26, 2026); Office of Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias, “Giannoulias’ Landmark Micromobility Safety Legislation Signed Into Law” (as published by RiverBender.com, August 27, 2026); Glenbard Wire, “Illinois e-bike law sets age limits for Glen Ellyn, Lombard” (October 9, 2026); NHTSA, “Bicycle Safety.” Accessed October 30, 2026.
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