E-bikes have become popular over the past several years. These are bicycles with functioning pedals that are also equipped with an electric motor. They can be a fun and efficient way for people to complete errands around town, get back and forth to work, or ride for enjoyment. In recent months, some village residents have raised safety concerns about e-bike use. I wanted to take this opportunity to summarize Illinois’ e-bike regulations.
There are two types of e-bikes: 1) pedal-assist and 2) throttle-assist. In Illinois, there are three classes of bike: Class 1 – pedal-assist with a top speed of 20 MPH; Class 2 – throttle-assist with a top speed of 20 MPH; Class 3 – pedal-assist with a top speed of 28 MPH. You do not need a license to operate an e-bike. You must, however, be 16 years old or older, and the class, either 1, 2, or 3, must be clearly marked on the e-bike.
E-bike operators must follow all the laws that apply to traditional bicycles, plus some other restrictions. They may ride wherever traditional bicycles are allowed, such as bike paths and the roadway, provided that they follow the rules of the road (which include speed restrictions, lane usage, signaling, and obeying stop signs!). While it is lawful for traditional bikes to be operated on sidewalks, e-bikes may not be used on the sidewalks.
Please be aware of those around you when operating an e-bike in the public way. Click here to read the Illinois statute governing low-speed electric bicycles (e-bikes). For more information about the restrictions and requirements that apply to e-bikes, traditional bicycles, or the rules of the road in general, contact the Hodgkins Police Department.
