Evanston e-bike riders, scooter commuters, and local bike shops face new statewide regulations when Illinois begins enforcing uniform speed-based classifications for micromobility devices on January 1, 2027.
Senate Bill 3484, which passed both legislative chambers and is being treated by state agencies as effective Janaury 1, replaces a patchwork of local ordinances with a single framework governing e-bikes, e-scooters, electric skateboards, and electric unicycles. For Evanston riders on the Lakefront Trail or the North Shore Channel path, the key changes break down by speed.
What changes January 1:
- Class 1 pedal-assist e-bikes (up to 20 mph, including Divvy bikes): minimum rider age of 15. Allowed on streets, bike lanes, paths, and trails.
- Class 2 motor-powered e-bikes (up to 20 mph): same rules as Class 1.
- Class 3 pedal-assist e-bikes (up to 28 mph): minimum rider age of 16. Allowed on streets and on-street bike lanes but restricted from multi-use paths unless local governments permit them.
- Low-speed e-scooters (up to 20 mph): minimum age drops from 18 to 16. Allowed on paths, bike lanes, and roads.
- High-speed devices (over 28 mph): barred from sidewalks, bike lanes, and bike paths immediately. Full licensing, title, registration, and insurance requirements kick in January 1, 2027.
All devices are banned from sidewalks.
"When injuries and fatalities are surging and with some e-bikes, e-motos and e-scooters traveling faster than 50 miles per hour, ignoring the problem is not an option," Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias told the Chicago Tribune.
The Secretary of State's office reported that micromobility-related injuries and fatalities surged 300 percent nationally between 2019 and 2022, the most recent data available. Giannoulias said Northwestern University hospital staff described emergency room visits from micromobility crashes as "staggering" in testimony to state legislators.
State officials said enforcement starting January 1 will focus on education rather than ticketing for age limits and sidewalk violations. License enforcement for high-speed devices begins January 1, 2027. Violations can result in fines and device impoundment.
Local impact
Evanston bike shops like Turin Bicycle on Davis Street and Mack's Bike & Goods on Central Street sell e-bikes spanning multiple classifications under the new framework. The city is also updating its 2014 Bicycle Plan, which will include a review of Evanston's currently ambiguous e-scooter policies, according to Streetsblog Chicago. Evanston City Council has already approved expanding Divvy from 14 to 28–31 docking stations at a cost of $310,826.
Evanston's free Summer Transportation Education Series, run by The Recyclery in partnership with the Evanston Public Library, covers e-bikes and scooters for riders 16 and older. The first workshop is a "Learn to Ride" class on June 28 from 2 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. at Prieto Community Center. Registration is available at cityofevanston.org, by calling 847-448-8600, or in person at the library.
The series wraps with the annual Bike the Ridge open streets event on September 28.
