What the secretary of state wants to do about e-bike and e-moto safety and law

Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias on Jan. 29 launched a campaign to update state law so that e-motos would be regulated separately from e-bikes, and to educate Illinoisans on the distinction.

The “Ride Safe, Ride Smart, Ride Ready” campaign aims “to protect pedestrians, riders and drivers by addressing the dangerous rise of high-speed e-bikes and other powerful electric transportation devices on Illinois streets and sidewalks,” Giannoulias’ office said. It “combines public education, updated driver training and a push for modernized safety laws.”

The campaign comes after the growth of e-bikes and similar vehicles with bigger motors — often still marketed as e-bikes — that can sometimes go as fast as cars or motorcycles, creating danger on sidewalks, paths and streets. Many Chicago suburbs responded with varying new laws that may restrict e-bikes as well as the other vehicles.

The Secretary of State website now includes a couple of pages outlining the campaign in broad terms so far. A news release says it will be a “collaboration with lawmakers, local officials, medical experts, law enforcement, and cycling and safety advocates statewide.”

The e-vehicle distinctions

The advocacy group Ride Illinois, involved in the campaign, in 2025 began working to educate the public and elected officials on e-motos, the general term adopted for bikes that have a motor of 750 watts or more and can go more than 20 mph without pedaling. Now Giannoulias’ “Know the Rules” page distinguishes “micromobility” devices further and indicates which are regulated.

It outlines the three classes of the legal “low-speed electric bicycle.” Then it lists “high-speed electric bicycle” and “e-moto” separately as unregulated.

The former is a “pedal bicycle with an electric motor of 750+ watts that can travel faster than 28 mph.” An e-moto is a “electric motor bike with a 750+ watt motor that can travel faster than 28 mph.” The pedaling is the distinction.

The web page also lists an “electric unicycle” and “electric skateboard,” both unregulated. And its notes a low-speed electric scooter vs. a high-speed one; the former is regulated only up to 10 mph, while the latter is not regulated at all.

Giannoulias can’t declare new regulations himself; he instead provides safety tips on the campaign’s main web page. It lists advice for bicyclists, pedestrians and auto drivers alike.

Education and enforcement

Meanwhile, Giannoulias says he’ll be working with educators, law enforcement and lawmakers to improve regulations and safety.

“We’re partnering with the Illinois High School and College Driver Education Association to develop new programming and curriculum that address micromobility across K-12 education and within high school driver’s education classes,” his web page says.

Jennifer Brown, president of the driver’s ed association, said during the campaign announcement that electric devices will be explained in the classes.

“Through this education, drivers and riders learn how to safely share the road,” Brown said, as Fox 32 Chicago reported. “Safety works best when everyone understands their role.”

Then, Giannoulias’ web page says, his office is working with police, especially through the Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police, to establish “balanced, community-centered” guidelines on enforcement that “position officers as mentors and safety advocates.”

And advocacy groups will assist in a public awareness campaign.

Updating state law

State Sen. Ram Villivalam, chair of the Senate Transportation Committee, and state Rep. Barbara Hernandez, vice-chair of the House Transportation Committee, are leading the effort to write legislation this year that would update the vehicle code. But they’ve released no draft yet.

Fox 32 Chicago provided the best local news report on the campaign’s announcement. It says Giannoulias’ office plans to urge lawmakers to “consider age limits, licensing or permits, and possible insurance requirements for certain vehicles,” and “make it clear where different devices can legally be used” among streets, bike lanes, sidewalks and trails.

But Giannoulias’ news release said any new legislation would establish only “baseline standards while preserving local governments’ authority to adopt additional safeguards tailored to their communities.”

Ride Illinois Executive Director Dave Simmons in 2025 began lobbying suburbs to allow broader use of e-bikes after several enacted their varying new laws. Some limited by age who could ride them, some required driver’s licenses, and some restricted where e-bike riders could go, perhaps prohibiting them from bike paths or even outright banning them in public spaces.

A few suburbs heeded Simmons’ advice and focused regulations only on e-motos rather than e-bikes. But others continued adding e-bike restrictions beyond those in state law. Simmons lamented to Axios the “patchwork of ordinances that are just confusing the public.” (See a town-by-town breakdown of the local laws.)

In a Jan. 29 statement, he continued to encourage comprehensive, “common-sense” state legislation that clearly defines which devices can be used on bicycle infrastructure.

“The chaos experienced in too many Illinois communities in 2025 — for example, teens recklessly riding e-motos at unsafe speeds — must not be repeated,” he said.

But Simmons said new ways to get around should be welcomed. “When used responsibly, new mobility modes reduce transportation costs for hard working Illinoisans — including individuals with limited mobility, people who can’t drive or don’t own a motor vehicle, and those who choose not to drive.”

Giannoulias’ web page says “the effort is about modernization, not prohibition.”

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