Riders of high-speed e-bikes and e-motos in Lake Forest and Lake Bluff would need a driver's license, registration, and insurance under a bill awaiting Gov. JB Pritzker's signature. Those faster devices, capable of exceeding 28 mph, would also be barred from sidewalks, bike lanes, and bike paths throughout both communities.
Lake Forest Police Chief John Burke said he supports the measure, Senate Bill 3484, and is working with Lake Forest's communications team on a social media campaign to educate residents before enforcement begins.
"It can be dangerous if you are walking out of a store onto the sidewalk and someone goes by at 20 mph," Burke told the Chicago Tribune. "That can create dangerous situations."
The Illinois General Assembly approved SB3484 at the end of its spring session in early June. The bill targets e-bikes and e-motos that fall outside Illinois's existing three-class e-bike framework and currently operate with no state-level licensing or registration requirements. Some of those devices can reach speeds above 50 mph. If signed, the classification framework would take effect July 1, with license, title, and registration requirements following January 1, 2027.
The legislation was championed by Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias, whose office cited federal data showing micromobility-related injuries and fatalities rose 300 percent nationwide from 2019 to 2022. That category includes e-bikes, e-scooters, and similar devices.
What changes locally
Lake Forest already requires riders of electronic mobility devices to walk them through the central business district under an ordinance the City Council approved in October 2023. The state law would layer new requirements on top: riders of faster devices would need a license and insurance, and the sidewalk ban would extend beyond downtown to all bike paths and lanes citywide.
In Lake Bluff, current village rules allow all three classes of e-bikes on roads in the central business district but require riders to walk them on sidewalks throughout the village. E-scooters are permitted on sidewalks outside downtown. Electronic dirt bikes are prohibited village-wide.
Lake Bluff Police Chief Matt Smizinski said village officials are waiting to see whether Pritzker signs the bill before taking action. He said the village will consult with legal counsel to assess implications if the bill becomes law.
What's next
As of June 22, Pritzker had not signed SB3484. A spokeswoman for the governor said he will review the bill once it is formally received from the General Assembly. No signing deadline has been announced.
Burke said Lake Forest's education campaign will focus on informing residents about the new classifications and requirements through social media before enforcement begins January 1, 2027.
