Communities alarmed as illegal e-motorbike riders endanger pedestrians and property
Residents in several UK towns say riders on powerful electric motorbikes are performing dangerous stunts, riding on pavements and intimidating locals, while police have begun seizing the vehicles without prior warnings.
In towns such as Burgess Hill and other parts of Sussex, locals report that riders on high-performance electric motorbikes are performing wheelies, racing down sidewalks and targeting pedestrians while wearing balaclavas. Several incidents involved groups of up to four riders, sometimes with two people on a single bike, creating hazardous situations for walkers, including the elderly and children. Police have responded by seizing the illegal machines on sight, and recent legislative changes let officers destroy the confiscated bikes after seven days instead of the previous fourteen.
Officers note that many of the bikes can exceed 40 mph and are often ridden without helmets, complicating enforcement. Community leaders have filmed the activity and expressed personal intimidation, while officials stress the potential for the vehicles to be used in crimes due to their speed and anonymity.
Why it matters
Unsafe e-motorbike use threatens public safety and may facilitate criminal activity in UK communities.
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