SPRINGFIELD — At the end of the Illinois General Assembly’s spring session in May, state lawmakers adjourned after approving several bills geared towards improving safety and legal protections for cyclists.
Lawmakers also left multiple bicycle-related measures in committee that cycling advocates supported. Here’s a rundown of the bills that passed and the ones that did not.
Expanding the definition of a bicycle
The legislature passed a bill that amends the Illinois Vehicle Code to change the state’s definition of a bicycle to include other non-traditional devices — like a tricycle for those with limited mobility.
Under the vehicle code, a bicycle now includes “Every human-powered or low-speed electric vehicle … with 2 or more wheels not less than 12 inches in diameter, designed for the transportation of one or more persons.”
Dave Simmons, executive director of the statewide bike advocacy group Ride Illinois, called the change “long overdue.” He said it grants all cyclists the same legal protections if they are involved in a crash or other dangerous situation, regardless of what device they are using.
“It’s not so much that people are out there getting ticketed because they’re riding a trike,” he said. “It’s giving them recourse if something were to happen.”
Giving cyclists an extra lane when passing on the road
The General Assembly passed a proposal that concerns the Illinois Secretary of State’s Rules of the Road . The bill makes multiple changes to the travel guidelines for motorists, pedestrians and cyclists.
Among those changes is a provision that requires drivers to move one vehicle lane over — if another traffic lane is available — when overtaking bicycles.
Traffic study after pedestrian fatalities
Another noteworthy measure lawmakers approved would require the Illinois Department of Transportation to conduct a traffic study at intersections where a pedestrian is killed in a vehicle crash. IDOT would then share its findings and recommend ways to prevent future crashes at identified sites.
“Some folks said, ‘wasn’t that already being done?’ But it really wasn’t,” Simmons said. “Not only will we learn from past tragedies, but it should help prevent future tragedies.”
E-bike batteries
The General Assembly sent a bill to Gov. JB Pritzker called the Micromobility Fire Safety Act. The proposal, which takes effect on Jan. 1, 2026, requires retailers selling e-bikes and e-scooters to ensure they have certified batteries that limit the risk of starting a fire.
Simmons said the bill comes after New York City saw a string of fires started by lower quality batteries in e-bikes and scooters.
“It’s not going to do anything with the devices that are out there, but it should help eliminate some fires … for folks who have yet to purchase those devices,” he said.
Allowing cyclists to treat stop signs as yield signs
The so-called “Idaho stop” measure is among the bills lawmakers left in committee.
It may sound unconventional, but advocates say it is often more safe for riders to roll through an intersection with stop signs if it is safe to do so.
Simmons said it becomes an impediment for cyclists to come to a complete stop, set their feet down, then resume pedaling — especially if there is no competing traffic.
“The knee jerk reaction is, ‘oh, you know, those scoundrel bicyclists are … getting away with something,'” he added. “It’s really all about safety and getting bicyclists through intersections. If a bicyclist were to cause a crash because they rolled a stop sign and they hit either a person or another vehicle, they’re still liable.”
The idea has been brought up in the General Assembly multiple times, but it’s never been approved. The state Senate passed the bill in April, but it did not make it through the House.
E-bike rebate program
Lawmakers also did not approve a proposed e-bike rebate program.
Simmons said the bill would reduce upfront costs of purchasing an e-bike. He acknowledged the measure likely faced an uphill battle this year as the state was confronting a budget shortfall.
“We hear frequently folks are interested, and they’re looking for other ways to get around as the price of automobiles continues to increase,” he said. “I think we’re going to see e-bikes, e scooters, micromobility only increase in our communities.”
Making bicyclists intended users of the road
Under a 1998 Illinois Supreme Court case and subsequent rulings, bicyclists can only be considered “permitted” users of the road and not “intended” users, except when municipalities have bike lanes or signs indicating bike routes.
The ruling also means in some cases, cities may not be held liable if someone on a bike injures themself due to poor road conditions.
Simmons said Illinois is the only state to make this distinction.
“It also ends up limiting where people will ride a bike, and whether or not a municipality is willing to invest in bike infrastructure, because as soon as they invest in the infrastructure, that says, ‘this is a space where bicyclists are both permitted and intended,” he explained.
“And then if something were to happen … that’s where it could come back to harm a municipality if someone has a legitimate case to sue for injuries.”
The General Assembly considered, but ultimately did not pass a measure that would make bicyclists intended users of every roadway where people are allowed to ride.