104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2025 and 2026
SB3595
 
Introduced 2/5/2026, by Sen. Meg Loughran Cappel
 
SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
625 ILCS 5/11-1517
    Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Allows a State entity to prohibit the use of low-speed electric bicycles or a specific class of low-speed electric bicycles on any bicycle path the State entity has jurisdiction over.


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A BILL FOR
 
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1    AN ACT concerning transportation.
 
2    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, 
3represented in the General Assembly:
 
4    Section 5. The Illinois Vehicle Code is amended by 
5changing Section 11-1517 as follows:
 
6    (625 ILCS 5/11-1517)
7    Sec. 11-1517. Low-speed electric bicycles.
8    (a) Except as otherwise provided in this Section, the 
9provisions of this Chapter that apply to bicycles also apply 
10to low-speed electric bicycles.
11    (b) Each low-speed electric bicycle operating in this 
12State shall comply with equipment and manufacturing 
13requirements adopted by the United States Consumer Product 
14Safety Commission under 16 CFR 1512. Each Class 3 low-speed 
15electric bicycle shall be equipped with a speedometer that 
16displays the speed the bicycle is traveling in miles per hour.
17    (c) Beginning on or after January 1, 2018, every 
18manufacturer and distributor of low-speed electric bicycles 
19shall apply a label that is permanently affixed to the bicycle 
20in a prominent location. The label shall contain, in Arial 
21font in at least 9-point type:
22        (1) a classification number for the bicycle that 
23    corresponds with a class under Section 1-140.10 of this 
 
 
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1    Code;
2        (2) the bicycle's top assisted speed; and
3        (3) the bicycle's motor wattage.
4    No person shall knowingly tamper or modify the speed 
5capability or engagement of a low-speed electric bicycle 
6without replacing the label required under this subsection 
7(c).
8    (d) A Class 2 low-speed electric bicycle shall operate in 
9a manner so that the electric motor is disengaged or ceases to 
10function when the brakes are applied. A Class 1 low-speed 
11electric bicycle and a Class 3 low-speed electric bicycle 
12shall operate in a manner so that the electric motor is 
13disengaged or ceases to function when the rider stops 
14pedaling. 
15    (e) A person may operate a low-speed electric bicycle upon 
16any highway, street, or roadway authorized for use by 
17bicycles, including, but not limited to, bicycle lanes.
18    (f) A person may operate a low-speed electric bicycle upon 
19any bicycle path unless the State, municipality, county, or 
20local authority with jurisdiction prohibits the use of 
21low-speed electric bicycles or a specific class of low-speed 
22electric bicycles on that path.
23    (g) A person may not operate a low-speed electric bicycle 
24on a sidewalk.
25    (h) A person may operate a Class 3 low-speed electric 
26bicycle only if he or she is 16 years of age or older. A person 
 
 
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1who is less than 16 years of age may ride as a passenger on a 
2Class 3 low-speed electric bicycle that is designed to 
3accommodate passengers.
4(Source: P.A. 100-209, eff. 1-1-18.)