It’s every driver’s nightmare: Cruising along a dark city street, suddenly some on a small, almost silent electric bicycle pulls out of a side street or turns into traffic from the sidewalk. With luck, all involved avoid an accident. The scenario occurs too often.
Illinois lawmakers passed new laws governing electric bicycles, electric scooters and other devices known as micromobility devices. The regulations will go into effect Jan. 1 and will hopefully curb the growing dangers associated with e-bikes.
Westville officials recently conducted a session in an effort to educate the public on the new rules.
The law breaks these devices into three categories: those that can travel faster than 28 mph; those that travel slower than 28 mph; and electric scooters, skateboard and unicycles than can reach speeds of up to 20 mph.
After Jan. 1, those on the fastest e-bikes must be at least 16 years old and will be required to have a valid driver’s license, be insured and have the device registered and titled through the Illinois Secretary of State’s office. Operators will be banned from sidewalks, bike paths and bike lanes. They must operate in regular traffic lanes. The state’s driving while impaired laws also apply to operators of these high-speed devices.
Those operating e-bikes that are pedal-assisted or throttle-assisted with a top speed of under 28 mph must be at least 15 years old. Operators of a peddle-assisted device that can go over 28 mph must be at least 16 years old. The devices will be allowed on streets, bike paths, bike lanes and trails. They cannot be operated on sidewalks.
The third classification includes scooters, skateboards and unicycles that can travel up to 20 mph. Operators must be at least 16. The devices can be used on bike lanes or on streets with a speed limit of under 35 mph. These electric devices are banned from sidewalks.
The law allows local authorities, including park districts and forest preserves, to create their own restrictions in the micromobility devices.
E-device operators who violate the law can receive regular traffic citations, which can include expensive fines, and police can impound the offender’s device.
Police might find it difficult to apprehend apparent offenders due to the devices’ mobility off and on the streets. Lawmakers apparently hope just the threat of fines or of having the device impounded will be enough to persuade operators to stay within the guidelines.
The issues associated with the e-devices will continue to grow. These new laws will not only make our streets and sidewalks safer, but should help protect e-bike operators as well.