Illinois bill seeking to streamline e-bike, scooter regulations heads to Gov. Pritzker's desk

CHICAGO (WLS) -- E-bikes and scooters have evolved so quickly that the laws have struggled to keep up.

New Illinois legislation establishes certain rules regarding not just where you can use them, but also how old you have to be to operate one. In some cases, it mandates users have a valid driver's license.

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E-bikes, e-scooters and other micromobility devices have made it easier for people to get around, providing alternatives for users to get to school, work or just for recreation. As more high-powered options have become available, the number of crashes have increased, in particular amongst children.

"Some of the young children don't have the physical friendly, the coordination, the development to safely ride some of these faster moving vehicles, like e-bikes and e-scooters," said Dr. Kristine Cislak, with Lurie Children's Hospital.

Attending physician Cislak said Lurie Children's Hospital's emergency room sees around 50 injuries a month related to these devices. It's a dramatic increase from just five a month a few years ago.

"I also think some of the older kids might overestimate their ability and they truly don't know how fast it goes, how quick it accelerates," Cislak said.

New legislation approved by the General Assembly, starting next year, aims to improve safety.

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Riders must be at least 15 years old to operate e-bikes that can travel up to 20 mph, and 16 years old to operate bikes that reach 28 mph.

Higher-speed bikes of 750 watts or more, operating at speeds up to and over 50 mph, will be reclassified.

"They will be regulated as motor-driven vehicles, which means driver's license, insurance, registration," Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias said.

While education and enforcement will be key to how successful this new law will be, local police chiefs laud it for creating uniformity.

"Really is a mish mosh of everything , so as people travel on these devices, they're going from one town to another on one charge. There is no clarity; there is no guidance," Gurnee Police Chief Jeremy Gaughan said.

Giannoulias was behind the push for the legislation.

"It's a bit of a victory lap today because we're excited and we worked very hard, but the truth of the matter is the work is not done," Giannoulias said.

Electric unicycles and skateboards are also covered under this bill ,which also includes rules regarding where they can and can't be used. While it is still awaiting the governor's signature to officially become law, it is set to take effect on Jan. 1.