Cities / Illinois

Where can I ride in Chicago?

E-bikes can go wherever regular bikes can in Chicago, except sidewalks. Chicago bans Class 3 e-bikes and e-scooters on sidewalks and keeps all of them off Lake Shore Drive. A new Illinois law changes the age and road rules on Jan 1, 2027.

Last checked Nov 1, 20267 official & reputable sourcesInteractive map ↓Not legal advice
E-bikes
Allowed

Allowed on streets, in bike lanes and on paths unless a local authority bans them there. No sidewalks. Class 3 riders must be 16+.1,2

E-scooters
Restricted

Allowed on streets and in bike lanes, but not on sidewalks or Lake Shore Drive. New state age and road rules start Jan 1, 2027.2,3

Golf carts / LSVs
Not by default

In Illinois, golf carts are banned on roads unless the local government passes an ordinance allowing them. We didn't find one for Chicago. LSVs can use streets posted at 30 mph or less.4,5

Interactive map

Where can you ride in Chicago? Map it.

Pick a vehicle to color every bike lane, path, park and major road by what our sources say: allowed, restricted, not allowed or unclear, check locally. Tap any line or pin for the rule and its source.

Layers

Not on the map: sidewalks

  • E-bikesNot allowedNo. State law bans e-bikes on sidewalks, and the city bans Class 3.1,2
  • E-scootersNot allowedNo (exceptions only for marked routes).2
  • Golf cartsNot allowedNo.

Not legal advice. The map doesn't make anything legal. Colors only reflect the rules cited on this page. Gray means our sources don't settle it, so check locally. Posted signs, park and trail rules, and private property rules win. Roads are colored only where OpenStreetMap has a posted speed limit, and map data can be incomplete or out of date.

Bike lanes, paths, parks and roads: © OpenStreetMap contributors, available under the Open Database License, data as of Nov 1, 2026. Basemap: OpenFreeMap © OpenMapTiles. Map library: MapLibre GL JS (BSD-3).

Where you can ride

A quick guide by place. Posted signs and park or trail rules can be stricter than what's shown here.

PlaceE-bikesE-scootersGolf carts / LSVs
StreetsAllowedYes, but not Lake Shore Drive.2RestrictedYes, but not Lake Shore Drive. From 2027: roads posted 35 mph or less, or in a bike lane.2,3RestrictedLSVs: streets posted 30 mph or less. Golf carts: no.4,5
Bike lanesAllowedYes.1AllowedYes.3Not allowedNo.
SidewalksNot allowedNo. State law bans e-bikes on sidewalks, and the city bans Class 3.1,2Not allowedNo (exceptions only for marked routes).2Not allowedNo.
Lakefront TrailUnclearThe Lakefront Trail has a separate 18-mile bike trail. The Park District is drafting new e-bike rules. Check before you ride.6,7UnclearThe Park District's micromobility rules are pending.7Not allowedNo.
Other pathsRestrictedAllowed unless the agency that runs the path bans them.1UnclearCheck the posted rules.3Not allowedNo.

The details

Lake Shore Drive and sidewalks

Chicago's code bans Class 3 e-bikes, low-speed electric devices and scooters from sidewalks, with narrow exceptions for marked routes. It also keeps them off Lake Shore Drive.2

Park District rule change pending

The Chicago Park District is writing new e-bike and micromobility rules for the Lakefront Trail and other parks. A draft was expected at the Nov 18, 2026 board meeting, with a vote after that. Check the Park District before you ride.7

New Illinois law: Jan 1, 2027

Under the new law (SB 3484, P.A. 104-854), Class 1 and 2 e-bike riders must be 15+. Only state agencies and park, forest preserve and transit districts will be able to restrict e-bikes on bike paths, and cities generally can't add their own e-bike rules.1 Riders of other micromobility devices, like e-scooters, must be 16+, stay off sidewalks, and ride only on roads posted 35 mph or less or in a bike lane.3

State baseline

Illinois: e-bikes are allowed wherever bicycles are, they're banned on sidewalks, and Class 3 riders must be 16+. Local authorities can ban e-bikes from paths.1 Golf carts and other non-highway vehicles need a local ordinance to use roads, and even then only on roads posted 35 mph or less.4

Not legal advice. This is a summary of public sources, last checked Nov 1, 2026. If anything here doesn't match the official source, the official source wins. Check your local ordinance, park and trail rules, and posted signs before you ride. Not sure? Use our guide to checking your town's rules.

Sources

  1. 625 ILCS 5/11-1517 (low-speed electric bicycles) — Illinois General Assembly
  2. Chicago ordinance amending MCC 9-52-020 (sidewalks, Lake Shore Drive) — Chicago City Clerk
  3. Micromobility in Illinois: know the rules — Illinois Secretary of State
  4. 625 ILCS 5/11-1426.1 (non-highway vehicles) — Illinois General Assembly
  5. 625 ILCS 5/11-1426.2 (low-speed vehicles) — Illinois General Assembly
  6. Lakefront Trail — Chicago Park District
  7. Town halls on the Park District's micromobility policies (Oct 2026) — Streetsblog Chicago

Sources opened and checked on Nov 1, 2026. Where we couldn't confirm a rule from an official source, we say unclear — check locally.

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