{"id":3646,"date":"2025-08-25T15:50:00","date_gmt":"2025-08-25T15:50:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/opendoorcounselingpa.com\/?p=3646"},"modified":"2025-08-26T14:33:33","modified_gmt":"2025-08-26T14:33:33","slug":"new-law-surprises-riders-with-who-counts-as-a-cyclist-in-illinois","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/opendoorcounselingpa.com\/index.php\/2025\/08\/25\/new-law-surprises-riders-with-who-counts-as-a-cyclist-in-illinois\/","title":{"rendered":"New Law Surprises Riders With Who Counts As A Cyclist In Illinois"},"content":{"rendered":"<div><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-post-image lazyload\" alt=\"\" style=\"margin-bottom: 15px\" loading=\"lazy\" data-src=\"http:\/\/opendoorcounselingpa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Mustang_eBike1-copy-1024x576-1.jpg\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:100%\">\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Illinois law now defines low-speed e-bikes and tricycles as bicycles.<\/li>\n<li>Riders gain clearer protections in crashes and insurance claims.<\/li>\n<li>There&rsquo;s now consistency statewide as suburbs debate e-bike rules.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>For decades, a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.carscoops.com\/tag\/bicycles\/\">bicycle<\/a> has been reasonably easy to define, but that&rsquo;s changing. The advent of e-bikes has governments all over the globe trying to figure out what&rsquo;s what. <\/p>\n<div class=\"ad-placement\">\n<div id=\"82503191-e1d1-435a-874f-9c78a2a54a2f\" class=\"_ap_apex_ad\"><\/div>\n<div id=\"0f7e3106-c4d6-4db4-8135-c508879a76f8\" class=\"_ap_apex_ad\"><\/div>\n<p>\t\t\t\tvar adpushup = window.adpushup  = window.adpushup || {que:[]};<br \/>\n\t\t\t\tadpushup.que.push(function() {<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\tif (adpushup.config.platform !== &#8220;DESKTOP&#8221;){<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\tadpushup.triggerAd(&#8220;0f7e3106-c4d6-4db4-8135-c508879a76f8&#8221;);<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t} else {<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\tadpushup.triggerAd(&#8220;82503191-e1d1-435a-874f-9c78a2a54a2f&#8221;);<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t}<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t});<\/p><\/div>\n<p>Some e-bikes essentially make commuting via bicycle achievable for those who couldn&rsquo;t have done so in the past. On the other hand, some e-bikes appear to be <a href=\"https:\/\/www.carscoops.com\/2023\/07\/police-impound-e-bike-after-ticketing-13-year-old-for-riding-it-on-road\/\">hardcore dirt bikes<\/a> disguised as a commuting tool. Now, Illinois is setting the record straight for its residents.<\/p>\n<p><strong>More: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.carscoops.com\/2025\/07\/california-police-impound-12-e-dirt-bikes-after-riders-put-them-on-public-roads\/\">No Pedals No Mercy As California City Cracks Down On E-Bikes<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Senate Bill 2285 became law in the state on August 1 and it aims to clarify what a &lsquo;bicycle&rsquo; actually is under the Illinois Vehicle Code. In the past, a bike was defined as &ldquo;every device propelled by human power upon which any person may ride, having two tandem wheels except scooters and similar devices.&rdquo; <\/p>\n<div id=\"taboola-mid-article\"><\/div>\n<div id=\"taboola-mid-article-thumbnails-organic\"><\/div>\n<p>That might sound fine, but keep in mind that some might take that to mean that mopeds or high-powered e-dirt bikes are also included. It also excludes those who ride a bicycle with more than two wheels.<\/p>\n<p><strong>A Clearer Definition<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The state and cycling advocacy groups wanted to clarify the law further. To that end, the new law says that a bicycle is &ldquo;every human-powered or low-speed electric vehicle with two or more wheels not less than 12 inches in diameter, designed for the transportation of one or more persons.&rdquo; <\/p>\n<p>Essentially, everything that is human-powered, even e-bikes, are bicycles so long as they have a top speed of less than 30 mph and are capable of no more than 750 watts of power. It also expands the definition to include three or four-wheeled bicycles as well.<\/p>\n<p>        <a href=\"https:\/\/www.carscoops.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/McLaren_launches_debut_electric_mountain_bike_range1.jpg\" data-type=\"inarticle-image-block\"> <\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\">\n<p>                    <img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"lazy \" src=\"\" alt=\" New Law Surprises Riders With Who Counts As A Cyclist In Illinois\" width=\"2500\" height=\"1475\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.carscoops.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/McLaren_launches_debut_electric_mountain_bike_range1-1024x604.jpg\" data-type=\"inarticle-image\" \/><\/p>\n<\/figure>\n<p>        <\/a>  <\/p>\n<p><strong>Why It Matters<\/strong><\/p>\n<div class=\"ad-placement\">\n<div id=\"9b1169d9-7a89-4971-a77f-1397f7588751\" class=\"_ap_apex_ad\"> <\/div>\n<div id=\"bb7964e9-07de-4b06-a83e-ead35079d53c\" class=\"_ap_apex_ad\"> <\/div>\n<p>\t\t\t\tvar adpushup = window.adpushup  = window.adpushup || {que:[]};<br \/>\n\t\t\t\tadpushup.que.push(function() {<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\tif (adpushup.config.platform !== &#8220;DESKTOP&#8221;){<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\tadpushup.triggerAd(&#8220;bb7964e9-07de-4b06-a83e-ead35079d53c&#8221;);<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t} else {<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\tadpushup.triggerAd(&#8220;9b1169d9-7a89-4971-a77f-1397f7588751&#8221;);<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t}<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t});<\/p><\/div>\n<p>Essentially, the law protects more cyclists and helps the state have the freedom to use the term bicycle more openly when discussing infrastructure plans. Now, planning a bicycle path or bike lane doesn&rsquo;t require clarifying that it will only be accessible to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.carscoops.com\/2023\/11\/aston-martin-and-lotus-introduce-new-bikes-latter-costs-more-than-a-ford-maverick\/\">traditional bicycles<\/a> and ebikes. According to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sj-r.com\/story\/news\/state\/2025\/08\/18\/new-illinois-law-expands-the-definition-of-bicycles\/85508346007\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">The State-Journal Register<\/a>, it also makes insurance interactions easier since the law now clearly defines the term bicycle.<\/p>\n<p>In terms of riding on roads, that will continue as it has in the past but now with riders who pilot bikes with more than two wheels. They&rsquo;ll still have to follow the rules of the road like any other road user. Another bill, SB2111, is still in the process of becoming a law and would allow cyclists to treat stop signs as yield signs.<\/p>\n<div class=\"ad-placement\">\n<div id=\"9b1169d9-7a89-4971-a77f-1397f7588751\" class=\"_ap_apex_ad\"> <\/div>\n<div id=\"bb7964e9-07de-4b06-a83e-ead35079d53c\" class=\"_ap_apex_ad\"> <\/div>\n<p>\t\t\t\tvar adpushup = window.adpushup  = window.adpushup || {que:[]};<br \/>\n\t\t\t\tadpushup.que.push(function() {<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\tif (adpushup.config.platform !== &#8220;DESKTOP&#8221;){<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\tadpushup.triggerAd(&#8220;bb7964e9-07de-4b06-a83e-ead35079d53c&#8221;);<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t} else {<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\tadpushup.triggerAd(&#8220;9b1169d9-7a89-4971-a77f-1397f7588751&#8221;);<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t}<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t});<\/p><\/div>\n<p>        <a href=\"https:\/\/www.carscoops.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/McLaren_launches_debut_electric_mountain_bike_range.jpg\" data-type=\"inarticle-image-block\"> <\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\">\n<p>                    <img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"lazy \" src=\"\" alt=\" New Law Surprises Riders With Who Counts As A Cyclist In Illinois\" width=\"2500\" height=\"1667\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.carscoops.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/McLaren_launches_debut_electric_mountain_bike_range-1024x683.jpg\" data-type=\"inarticle-image\" \/><\/p>\n<\/figure>\n<p>        <\/a>  <\/p>\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><\/h4>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Illinois law now defines low-speed e-bikes and tricycles as bicycles. Riders gain clearer protections in crashes and insurance claims. There&rsquo;s &hellip; <a href=\"http:\/\/opendoorcounselingpa.com\/index.php\/2025\/08\/25\/new-law-surprises-riders-with-who-counts-as-a-cyclist-in-illinois\/\" class=\"more-link\"><span class=\"more-button\">Continue Reading<span class=\"screen-reader-text\">New Law Surprises Riders With Who Counts As A Cyclist In Illinois<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":3648,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[10],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3646","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/opendoorcounselingpa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3646","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/opendoorcounselingpa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/opendoorcounselingpa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/opendoorcounselingpa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/opendoorcounselingpa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3646"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"http:\/\/opendoorcounselingpa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3646\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3649,"href":"http:\/\/opendoorcounselingpa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3646\/revisions\/3649"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/opendoorcounselingpa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3648"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/opendoorcounselingpa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3646"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/opendoorcounselingpa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3646"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/opendoorcounselingpa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3646"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}