SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WAND) — Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias launched a new initiative Thursday to protect pedestrians, riders and drivers from unregulated electric bikes, scooters and skateboards.

Giannoulias told reporters in Chicago that e-bikes and other devices have become faster, heavier and more powerful, but Illinois laws do not address the modern vehicles.

The Democrat said the micromobility industry is booming, but the number of crashes and tragedies is also rising.

Researchers at Columbia University found e-bike injuries surged by nearly 300% nationwide from 2019 to 2022. Illinois has also seen several high-profile deaths involving e-bikes.

"Last fall, a Mount Prospect teen was killed when the e-bike he was riding collided with a pickup truck," Giannoulias said. "And in 2022, an Illinois State University official died after he was struck by an e-bike rider in Bloomington-Normal."

New technology has enabled micromobility devices to travel at more than 50 miles per hour, far beyond the speeds addressed in current state law. Giannoulias is working with the Illinois High School and College Driver Education Association to develop new programming and curriculum to address micromobility across K-12 education and high school driver's ed courses.

"By pairing education with commonsense safeguards, we can make sure innovation on our streets doesn't come at the expense of public safety," said Sen. Ram Villivalam (D-Chicago).

The Secretary of State's website now features information on micromobility safety, rules and policy updates. That includes a Know the Rules section explaining existing law for riders, parents, drivers, educators and local leaders.

"Many are controlled by minors that are not aware of the rules of the road," said Rep. Barbara Hernandez (D-Aurora). "At the same time, many of them are riding them in areas like sidewalks or trailer parks."

Villivalam and Hernandez plan to file a bill to establish clear statewide standards for high-powered e-bikes and other electric devices that fall outside existing law. They noted the plan will preserve local government authority to adopt additional safeguards for their communities.

The Secretary of State is also working with law enforcement to create community-centered micromobility enforcement guidelines. He hopes to establish credibility and trust through preventative actions while officers and advocates promote e-bike safety.

"Keeping people safe starts with education and prevention, not just enforcement," said Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police President Joe Leonas. "These new guidelines will help officers work directly with communities, parents and riders to promote safe behavior, identify problems early and prevent serious crashes. By focusing on partnership and common-sense standards, we can build trust and make our streets safer for everyone." 

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