Mobility scooters in Illinois: pedestrian rights and crossings

Riders in Chicago neighborhoods, college towns and small downstate communities tend to ask the same thing: when I am on my scooter, do drivers have to treat me like someone walking? In Illinois the answer comes from the vehicle code's definition of a pedestrian and from the state transportation department's own guidance to drivers.

Both point the same way. A person with a disability using an assistive device on a sidewalk or roadway has the right-of-way and the same rights as any pedestrian. The finer points, and the questions we could not settle, follow.

What Illinois law and IDOT say about riders

The Illinois Vehicle Code defines a pedestrian in 625 ILCS 5/1-158 as "Any person afoot or wearing in-line speed skates or riding a skateboard, including a person with a physical, hearing, or visual disability" (625 ILCS 5/1-158). The definition names people with disabilities but does not mention wheelchairs or scooters by name.

The Illinois Department of Transportation fills in that gap in its guidance to drivers. On its Share the Road page for pedestrians, IDOT says: "When approaching a pedestrian with a disability who is utilizing a guide dog, a white cane, a wheelchair or other assistive device on a sidewalk or roadway, the pedestrian has the right-of-way and is granted the same rights as any pedestrian." The same page says a driver must come to a complete stop and yield "When a pedestrian is in a marked crosswalk."

In practice, that means a scooter rider crossing at a marked crosswalk is owed the same stop as anyone walking, and a driver approaching a rider on a sidewalk or roadway should yield. It also implies the other half of the bargain: riding as a pedestrian means using crosswalks and following pedestrian signals rather than riding with traffic.

Two limits on what we can tell you. First, the Illinois General Assembly's statute site was unavailable when we checked, so the 1-158 wording comes from an archived copy of the official page. Second, we could not confirm the current text of any Illinois statute on motorized wheelchairs and sidewalks, and we do not quote one here. Cities can also set their own sidewalk rules. If you plan to ride a fast outdoor scooter on busy sidewalks, ask your city or village which rules apply.

Weather that shapes an Illinois riding season

NOAA's Illinois State Climate Summary notes that the state's annual average temperature varies by about 10°F from north to south, with Lake Michigan moderating the northeast, where it brings "cooler summers and warmer winters." Annual precipitation ranges from more than 50 inches in the south to less than 35 inches in the north, and snowfall reverses the pattern, with the northeast averaging more than 40 inches.

The summary also reports a sharp increase in 2-inch extreme rain events and adds that more than 90% of urban flooding damage claims from 2007 to 2014 were outside the mapped floodplain. For riders, that means checking the forecast before a long outing, avoiding flooded underpasses and curb ramps, and bringing the scooter and its batteries indoors in winter. Heat counts too: NOAA describes the July 1995 Chicago heat wave, when the heat index reached 105°F or more for 42 hours.

Scooters for Illinois homes and errands

Think about where the scooter will live and how it will travel. A downtown apartment, a split-level house and a farmhouse driveway need different machines; here are four to compare.

• Small apartments and car trunks: the Pride Go Go Super Portable folds to a 12-inch depth without removing the seat, stands upright when folded and tows by its handle. With its 11.7Ah lithium-ion battery it weighs 49.9 lbs.
• Tight indoor turns with four-wheel stability: Pride's EZ Turn lets the Victory 10 4-wheel turn in 45.5 in. It carries up to 400 lbs and goes up to 15.5 miles per charge, and the seat slides and swivels so you can roll up to the table.
• Longer errands with a high-back seat: Golden designed the LiteRider 4-Wheel to come apart into six pieces with no wires to connect; the 52 lb front half is the heaviest. It has an adjustable LED headlight for early winter evenings.
• Lifting every piece yourself: the Golden Buzzaround LT 3-Wheel comes apart into pieces no heavier than 28 lbs and turns in a 39-inch radius.

Try devices free through IATP

The Illinois Assistive Technology Program is the state's program under the federal Assistive Technology Act (AT3 Center). Its demonstration center includes mobility, seating and positioning devices, and demonstrations are "free of charge to all Illinois residents," in person or by video. Its reuse program lists wheelchairs, walkers and scooters among the mobility equipment it handles, at no cost.

How scooters ship to Illinois

A scooter is delivered to your door; nothing is fixed to the house. We ship to the lower 48 states and DC, with free shipping on orders over $500 ($15 under $500), and we cover the sales tax on every order. Most products are processed in 2-5 business days; some brands differ. See the Illinois shipping page, and answer a few questions in the scooter fit check.

Questions about mobility scooters in Illinois

Do Illinois drivers have to yield to me on a mobility scooter?

IDOT tells drivers that a pedestrian with a disability using a wheelchair or other assistive device on a sidewalk or roadway has the right-of-way and the same rights as any pedestrian. Drivers must also stop and yield when a pedestrian is in a marked crosswalk. Cross at crosswalks and follow pedestrian signals to keep those protections clear.

Is a person with a disability a pedestrian under Illinois law?

Yes. 625 ILCS 5/1-158 defines a pedestrian as any person afoot, on in-line skates or on a skateboard, "including a person with a physical, hearing, or visual disability." The definition does not name wheelchairs or scooters, which is why IDOT's driver guidance on assistive devices is a helpful companion to it.

Can I ride my scooter on the sidewalk in Chicago or other Illinois cities?

IDOT's guidance treats an assistive device user on a sidewalk as a pedestrian with the right-of-way. We could not confirm the current text of a statewide statute on motorized wheelchairs and sidewalks, and cities may add their own rules. For a fast outdoor scooter, check with your city or village before relying on sidewalk riding.

Where can I test a scooter in Illinois?

The Illinois Assistive Technology Program offers free demonstrations to all Illinois residents, in person or by video, and its demonstration center includes mobility, seating and positioning devices. Its reuse program also lists scooters among the mobility equipment it provides at no cost, so it is worth asking what is available.

Compare models in the mobility scooter collection, take the scooter fit check, or try the full assessment. Questions? Email us at info@faithmobility.com.

Sources

• 625 ILCS 5/1-158, pedestrian
• Illinois Department of Transportation, Share the Road: pedestrians
• NOAA NCEI State Climate Summaries: Illinois (2022)
• Illinois Assistive Technology Program
• IATP device demonstrations
• IATP equipment reuse
• AT3 Center: Illinois
• Pride Go Go Super Portable (Faith Mobility product page)
• Pride Victory 10 4-wheel (Faith Mobility product page)
• Golden LiteRider 4-Wheel (Faith Mobility product page)
• Golden Buzzaround LT 3-Wheel (Faith Mobility product page)