Here’s a primer on Illinois state laws regulating the use of electric scooters and e-bikes.
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While e-scooters may be a popular choice for children and teens to get around, you may want to check to see what Illinois state law says about the transit options before letting your child use one.
Illinois state law regulates the “low-speed electric scooter,” which may not lawfully be used on a highway with a speed limit of more than 35 miles per hour. The scooters can only be used by one person at a time, the law dictates, and someone cannot lawfully operate an e-scooter under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
A low-speed electric scooter is defined as having two to three wheels, handlebars and a floorboard to stand on while riding, and powered by an electric motor and human power, according to the Illinois Secretary of State’s office.
An electric scooter is regulated under the “low-speed” rules if it’s capable of going up to 10 miles per hour.
“Any device that’s faster or heavier falls into a moped or motor-driven cycle category, which then triggers licensing and registration requirements through the Illinois Vehicle Code,” Teri Ross, executive director of Illinois Legal Aid Online, told the News-Democrat.
Illinois has a statewide minimum age requirement of 18 to use an e-scooter, but the minimum age is only 16 for Class 3 e-bikes. Some municipalities have their own age requirements or additional rules on the use of e-scooters or e-bikes. Carbondale has an ordinance on e-scooter use, requiring registration and insurance.
The adult age requirement for e-scooter usage was implemented in 2024. Several medical organizations have reported injury issues with children using e-scooters or e-bikes, and some municipalities, including St. Louis City, have reported problems with teens on e-scooters.
St. Louis temporarily banned e-scooters in its downtown and downtown west neighborhoods in 2022 after reports of crime and other inappropriate use issues were reported related to teens using the scooters. They’re now available again in the city through rental company Lime.
Both e-scooters and e-bikes are forms of “micromobility,” or lightweight vehicles commonly used in urban environments or on college campuses, though they can also be seen in suburbs.
In addition to its rules on using e-scooters, Illinois regulates low-speed electric bicycles, or those with the capability to go up to 28 miles per hour. These are generally allowed under state law on streets, bike lanes and shared-use trails, though localities may have their own stricter rules. E-bikes are prohibited on sidewalks, and those riding the fastest classification of e-bike, the Class 3 Pedal-Assist, must be at least 16 years old.
How to safely use e-scooters & e-bikes
The Illinois Secretary of State recommends bicyclists and micromobility users, such as those on e-scooters, follow these best practices for safety:
Obey the same traffic laws, signs and signals that apply to motorists.Be visible and use a front light and a rear reflector when riding at night.Ride as close to the right edge of the road as is safe.Communicate using hand signals.Avoid the “door zone” of people exiting parked cars.Ride in the same direction as other traffic, not against traffic.
Helmet use is also strongly recommended for e-scooter and e-bike users.
Additionally, pedestrians should always stop before leaving a driveway or sidewalk, check for traffic multiple times and if there is a pedestrian signal, only cross when allowed, the secretary of state’s office says.
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Meredith Howard is a service journalist with the Belleville News-Democrat. She is a Baylor University graduate and has previously freelanced with the Illinois Times and the Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting.
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