E-Bikes, E-Scooters In Plainfield: What To Know As New School Year Starts

PLAINFIELD, IL — As Plainfield students return to the classroom, police are reminding children and their parents of the rules of e-bikes and scooters.

The Plainfield Village Board adopted an ordinance in September 2025 regulating the use of e-bikes and e-scooters in town, reversing the previous rule that motorized vehicles that can't be licensed were "completely not allowed."

Take a look at Plainfield's regulations:

Legislation is currently pending in Illinois that, if passed, would treat certain e-bikes more like motor vehicles. Senate Bill 3484, sent to Gov. JB Pritzker on June 30, looks to subject certain gas-powered bikes to vehicle requirements, including a title, registration and insurance. The rule would be required of e-bikes above 750 watts and up to 8,000 watts and those that can operate at speeds greater than 28 mph.

Ordinary low-speed e-bikes and e-scooters would continue to be largely treated like bicycles, but the bill would establish statewide rules on where they could operate, age limits, speed modifications and local regulation.

The vehicles would be prohibited on roads with speed limits above 35 mph, unless there is a designated bike lane. Ones capable of driving at 28 mph or above would be prohibited from public highways, bike lanes and bike paths.

If passed, the new regulations would be effective Jan. 1, 2027.

RELATED: E-Bikes, E-Scooters Now Allowed In Plainfield, But With These Rules