Unsafe on Two Wheels? A New Motor Bike & Scooter Law

By Don DeBat

Back in the 1960s, Ralph Nader, the famed consumer advocate who authored a book titled “Unsafe At Any Speed,” lobbied for safer automobiles—especially against the Chevrolet Corvair and Ford Pinto.

Today, in Chicago and across Illinois, the question Nader would ask: Are people unsafe on two wheels?

As grim statistics on bicycle, electric scooter and motorcycle deaths keep piling up, the question in 2026 is how are people—especially risk-prone teenagers—going to protect themselves from getting injured or killed?

Thankfully, Gov. JB Pritzker signed a new law governing who can use electronic bikes and scooters, including where and how fast they can go.

The law, which establishes regulations on “micromobility” transportation that includes age requirements, speed limits, and rules on where they can be operated, will go into effect on January 1, 2027.

Unfortunately, the law does not regulate unlicensed bicyclists, who some critics say are “free spirits” who do not obey basic traffic laws.

Grim scooter statistics

Deadly e-scooter summer accidents fill the news. A 14-year-old was killed in July when he crossed in front of an SUV while riding an electronic dirt bike in front of Wauconda High School. In Chicago, a 16-year-old on a Lime e-scooter was killed when he lost control and was hit by a semi-truck near the intersection of Western Ave. and Irving Park Rd. in early August. Two other teens were killed in accidents on e-scooters on the city’s South Side earlier in the summer. A Crystal Lake 15-year-old was left in serious condition in August and was found to be at-fault when he drove his scooter in front of a car, according to police.

As a former “road warrior on two wheels,” this writer has special advice for the those who choose to ride on two wheels. First, get professional training on how to ride defensively in deadly city traffic. Second, always wear a helmet and protective gear, from a leather outfit to heavy boots.

Motorcycle excitement?

My adventures with motorcycles started in the early 1970s, when my college friend Torello Tacchi—a professional motorcycle racer and movie stuntman—asked: “Why not put something exciting between your legs?”

Tacchi, who operated a family motorcycle business in Old Town, sold me a sophisticated 850 c.c. Moto Guzzi motorcycle. It basically was an Italian Harley. Tacchi’s life’s work involved building custom road-racer motorcycles, and competing against professional factory racing teams at tracks in the Chicago area, Indianapolis, and Daytona Beach.

Speed filled Torello’s life. For many years, he held the motorcycle-lap speed record at Meadowdale International Raceway in Carpentersville, IL. Tacchi also won races at the Daytona International Speedway, and he held lap speed records at tracks in Indianola, IN, Laconia, NH, and Wentzville, MO.

Walk-on-the-wild-side Tacchi, who passed away in 2020 at age 80, also had a brief fling as a stuntman in the movie industry. In the early 1960s, he jumped the Michigan Avenue Bridge near the Wrigley Building while the bridge tender began to raise the concrete and steel span across the Chicago River.

With our long hair billowing in the breeze, my adventuresome college roommate, Don (Garbo) Garbarino and I rode our matching red and black Moto Guzzi motorcycles from Chicago to the “Badlands” of Wyoming and back at speeds up to 120 mph.

Unfortunately, my riding skills in busy Windy City traffic were not as professionally polished as Tacchi’s. Two serious accidents left me battle scarred. Although the helmet saved my life, I lost a spleen, suffered a lacerated kidney, dislocated a shoulder and shattered a collar bone. I left the bolts that wired my collar bone together in place to remind me of my folly.

Advice from Legislative sponsor

“Technology is evolving, providing expanded mobility options for our neighbors through the rise in popularity of e-bikes and scooters,” said Sen. Ram Villivalam (D-Chicago), sponsor of the scooter bill. “But without clear regulations for these devices, we are seeing increased injuries and accidents—jeopardizing community safety.”

The e-scooter law was one of Secy. of State Alexi Giannoulias’ top priorities during the legislative session. “As these high-powered devices become faster and more common on our streets and sidewalks, the stakes are simply too high to leave them unregulated and outpacing public safety,” said Giannoulias. “This law brings accountability and common-sense safety standards to our roads while helping prevent serious injuries.”

What’s changing?

The bill creates new statewide standards for high-speed electric bikes and scooters, electric motor bikes, and electric unicycles and skateboards.

It creates a new tier of regulations for “high-speed” e-bikes, which have electric motors and can travel faster than 28 mph.

Those would be regulated similarly to motorcycles and require users to have a driver’s license, insurance, an ownership title and register the vehicle with the state. They also must be driven on roads.

“Low-speed” e-bikes are already regulated by the state, but the law creates the following new tiers that govern how old a person must be to drive them:

• Drivers must be at least 15 years old to operate a Class 1 pedal-assisted bike that travels up to 20 mph, such as Chicago’s Divvy Bikes, and a Class 2 motor-powered bike that doesn’t have to be pedaled. People must be 16 years old to drive pedal-assisted bikes that can travel up to 28 mph.

• All low-speed e-bikes can be used on streets, bike lanes, paths and trails, but not on sidewalks.

Some high-speed electric scooters can reach speeds of 50 mph, but the new regulations limit riders to traveling up to 28 mph.

• Riders would be allowed to operate e-bikes on paths, bike lanes, roads with speed limits up to 35 mph, or roads with higher speed limits if there is a bike lane. Users must be 16 years old.

• Low-speed electric scooters that top out at 20 mph would also be allowed on paths, bike lanes, and roads by users who are at least 16 years old, down from 18 years old in current law.

• Battery-powered devices designed for young children would be unregulated aside from a stipulation they must stay on sidewalks and paths.

Users who violate the regulations could pay fines and have their devices confiscated and impounded by the police. They are also subject to other existing traffic laws and penalties as well.

Supporters of the legislation say the e-scooter and e-bike devices create a safety hazard for both riders and pedestrians because some can travel more than 40 mph and can often be found sharing space on both sidewalks and busy streets.

Don DeBat is co-author of “Escaping Condo Jail,” the definitive guide to condominium living. A veteran real estate voice, he provides essential insights for navigating communal ownership at escapingcondojail.com. Stay updated on housing news at dondebat.biz. Don is currently writing “Chicago’s Game,” a look at the history and lifestyle of 16-inch softball.