Electric bikes are no longer a novelty in the Chicago area. Suburban neighborhoods, trails, and even strip mall parking lots have become home to every kind of rider, from high schoolers running errands to delivery riders trying to shave minutes off their routes.
The growing mix of e-bikes, scooters, and pedestrians forced suburban leaders to write new rules fast, and by 2025, the entire region began to reset how it thinks about e-mobility.
Today, we prepared a detailed look at how the new regulations actually work, what has changed, and what everyday riders need to know.
Key Points
- Illinois uses a three-class system for e-bikes, limiting speeds and requiring proper labeling.
- Most Chicago suburbs now enforce a 16+ age rule, licensing for Class 3, and no riding on sidewalks.
- Each suburb has its own trail and park restrictions, but all reinforce pedestrian safety and speed control.
- Enforcement in 2025 shifted to strict fines, focusing on age, licensing, and sidewalk violations.
Illinois State Law Is the Foundation for Every Suburban Rule
Before talking about suburbs, it helps to get the state baseline clear. Illinois defines electric bikes through its three-class system, covering how each type operates and how fast it can go.
The Three E-Bike Classes in Illinois
State law (625 ILCS 5/1-140.10 and 625 ILCS 5/11-1517) sets the core framework. Every legal e-bike must:
- Have fully operable pedals
- Use an electric motor under 750 watts
- Display a permanent label showing its class, top assisted speed, and motor wattage
Those caps matter. Tampering with the speed limiter or modifying the motor pushes the bike outside the legal definition, something police in places like Naperville have repeatedly warned against. Altering an e-bike without updating its label is illegal under Illinois law.
Statewide Age Rules
The state’s only hard age rule applies to Class 3:
- Riders must be at least 16 years old to operate a Class 3 e-bike.
- Riders under 16 can ride as passengers if the bike is designed for it.
According to Velotric Bike, there’s no statewide minimum for Class 1 or 2 e-bikes. That gap led many Chicago suburbs to introduce their own age thresholds for younger riders.
Where You Can Ride Under State Law
Illinois treats e-bikes as bicycles in most contexts:
- You may ride on any roadway, highway, or bike lane open to bicycles.
- You may use bicycle paths, unless a city or county bans specific classes.
- You may not ride on sidewalks.
That last point, the sidewalk ban, is the single most important rule echoed across the suburbs. Towns simply restate and reinforce it so riders cannot plead ignorance.
Chicago’s Example
Even though the suburbs write their own ordinances, Chicago itself serves as a model.
Sidewalk Rules Inside Chicago
Municipal Code section 9-52-020 says:
- Riders 12 and older may not ride on sidewalks unless marked as bike routes.
- Temporary sidewalk use is allowed only to reach a road, path, or bike-share station.
E-bikes are treated just like regular bicycles. If the sidewalk doesn’t show bike markings, you stay off it. In downtown or lakefront areas, police and park officers enforce that rule strictly.
Speed Inside City Limits
Chicago does not change the class speed caps, but enforcement focuses on safe, reasonable speeds. On the Lakefront Trail and in crowded areas, anything over 15–20 mph can earn a stop, as per Movcan. In short, “reasonable and prudent” replaces “whatever your bike can do.”
Why the Suburbs Tightened Rules in 2025
The trigger for reform was a sharp rise in complaints about young riders and near-misses with pedestrians. Local governments described the same pattern: fast e-bikes near schools, throttle races in parking lots, and confusion about what was legal.
- Elk Grove Village faced a viral incident where more than a dozen minors on e-bikes and dirt bikes sped through town, ignored traffic signals, and ran from police, Fox 32 Chicago reported.
- Roselle spent months drafting new personal vehicle rules after reports of unsafe riding near parks.
- Highland Park debated whether to ban e-bikes on trails entirely after residents raised safety concerns.
At the same time, national media pointed to “e-motos,” fast throttle bikes that look like bicycles but act like mopeds, as the main source of confusion. Suburbs responded with stricter definitions, higher age limits, and steeper fines.
Age Rules by Suburb
The clearest trend is that 16 has become the magic number, even for classes that once had no limit.
Elk Grove Village
Elk Grove’s 2025 ordinance made headlines for being one of the toughest.
- Riders must be at least 16 and hold a valid driver’s license.
- E-bikes and scooters are only allowed on roads under 35 mph.
- Fines can reach $200 per violation.
- Motors cannot be used on village paths; pedal power only.
Effectively, Elk Grove reclassified e-bikes as small road vehicles. Teenagers without a license are pushed back to regular bicycles.
Roselle
Roselle took a layered approach.
- Riders under 16 may use Class 1 or 2 e-bikes only with pedals, no motor assist.
- To activate the motor, the rider must be 16 or older.
- Low-speed scooters require riders to be 18 or older.
- Fines begin around $35, and parents can be ticketed for allowing violations.
- Class 1 e-bikes are allowed on designated park trails for those 16 and older, but Class 2 and 3 are banned on those trails.
Roselle’s park district applies its own layer of rules, creating a clear distinction between pedal bikes and anything motor-assisted.
Highland Park
Highland Park’s council opted for both age and location restrictions.
- E-bike riders must be over 16 and hold a driver’s license.
- E-scooter riders must be over 18.
- Riders without licenses can only ride with a parent or guardian present.
- Fines now range from $100 to $500.
- E-bikes and scooters are banned on sidewalks, parks, trails, and parking lots.
The result: Highland Park’s roads are open to licensed riders only, while public spaces remain reserved for pedestrians.
Park District Examples
River Trails Park District
- Class 1 e-bikes are permitted on paved paths for riders 16 or older.
- Class 2 and 3 e-bikes, scooters, and gas-powered bikes are banned.
- Sidewalks remain off limits.
Naperville Park District
- Class 1 and 2 e-bikes are allowed on certain asphalt or multi-use trails.
- Riders must follow “Share the Trails” etiquette and yield to pedestrians.
- Police reinforce that sidewalks are off limits and that riders must follow bicycle traffic laws.
This patchwork structure: different ages, permissions, and enforcement agencies, is now the reality across the region.
Sidewalks
@jasonknowlestv SCOOTERS 🛴 AND BIKES 🏍️ ON SIDEWALKS: The I-Team asking what’s being done about the safety risk. #scooter #escooter #ebike #ebikes #escooterlife @abc7chicago
The legal foundation for every local sidewalk ban traces back to the same place: Illinois law flatly forbids riding e-bikes on sidewalks. Suburbs then echo it, often adding their own warnings and fines.
What State Law Says
Section 625 ILCS 5/11-1517 states that a person may not operate a low-speed electric bicycle on a sidewalk. The nonprofit Ride Illinois advises cities to enforce this rule consistently to protect pedestrians.
How Suburbs Apply It
1. Roselle
Prohibits sidewalk riding outright, limiting e-bikes to streets and bike paths.
2. Highland Park
Extends the ban to sidewalks, parking lots, bicycle paths, and park property.
3. River Trails Park District
Allows limited Class 1 path access but keeps sidewalks pedestrian-only.
4. Naperville
Police emphasize zero tolerance for sidewalk riding, especially near schools and downtown.
5. Evanston
Downtown’s “Safe Sidewalks” program bans all bikes, scooters, and skateboards. Even pushing a bike through crowded sidewalks can draw attention.
The Confusion Between Sidewalks and Paths
One recurring problem is riders mistaking multi-use paths for sidewalks. The difference:
Always check signage. A “shared path” symbol means you’re likely fine; a plain sidewalk means get off and walk.
Speed Rules
An e-bike’s built-in speed limit is not the same as the legal speed you can ride on a given street.
Built-In Speed Caps
- Class 1: assist up to 20 mph
- Class 2: throttle up to 20 mph
- Class 3: assist up to 28 mph
Those caps define how the motor works, not how fast you can go overall. If you exceed those speeds downhill, that’s on you, not the bike.
Local Speed Enforcement
- Elk Grove Village: restricts e-bikes to roads with posted limits under 35 mph.
- Highland Park: enforces standard roadway limits; e-bike riders are subject to traffic laws.
- Naperville: park rules favor “ride at a safe speed” language; police focus on reckless riding.
Some towns also monitor speed along trails with radar signs and issue warnings during community patrols.
Enforcement and Fines
The tone shifted sharply in 2025. Where police once gave warnings, they now hand out tickets.
Police departments in all four towns use social media to warn residents about group rides that block intersections or race through parks.
Police departments in all four towns use social media to warn residents about group rides that block intersections, race through parks, or cause traffic conflicts similar to what often happens after a drunk driving accident claim investigation.
E-Bikes vs. E-Motos
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A growing number of “e-motos” sold online blur the line between bicycles and small motorcycles. They have pedals but can hit 30+ mph on throttle, which makes them illegal as e-bikes under Illinois law.
Problems arise when:
- Sellers advertise them as e-bikes without clear labeling.
- Riders use them on bike paths or sidewalks assuming they’re legal.
- Residents see one speeding and assume all e-bikes are dangerous.
Municipalities respond with blanket bans that sometimes sweep up legitimate e-bikes. For riders, the solution is simple: ride a labeled, compliant bike and stay off sidewalks. Having a visible Class 1, 2, or 3 sticker with an under-750-watt motor rating protects you from being mistaken for a motorcyclist.
Riding Legally and Responsibly
Suburban riders now need to treat e-bikes like cars or scooters: vehicles with rights and rules, not toys.
Quick Summary
- Sidewalks are off limits.: State law and nearly every suburb ban e-bikes from sidewalks.
- 16 is the new minimum age for motor assist.: Elk Grove Village, Roselle, Highland Park, and most park districts now follow this baseline.
- Licenses are often required.: Especially for e-bikes that share roadways with cars.
- Stick to roads under 35 mph unless posted otherwise.: Some suburbs ban e-bikes from faster roads entirely.
- Check your park district’s website before riding trails.: Rules can differ within the same town.
- Respect posted speed limits and pedestrians.: Enforcement now focuses on courtesy and safety, not just compliance.
Quick Comparison Table
The pattern is clear: the suburbs are standardizing around 16+, zero sidewalk tolerance, and stricter trail distinctions.
Final Thoughts
The Chicago suburbs are no longer guessing about e-bike regulation. They’ve moved into enforcement, backed by clear age limits, visible labels, and unambiguous sidewalk bans.
The result is a new stage of micromobility maturity, one where riders know exactly what’s expected of them, and pedestrians can reclaim their space without fear of a silent motor rushing by.
For anyone planning to ride through Chicagoland in 2025, the rules are simple: stay off sidewalks, respect your class limits, and know your suburb’s ordinance before rolling out.
The law is catching up, and the suburbs are making sure everyone gets the message: quietly, clearly, and with both feet on the pedals where they belong.
