Forum Topic

The Met -v- Illegal E-Bikes

https://news.met.police.uk/pressreleases/met-seizes-dozens-of-illegal-e-bikes-in-continued-crackdown-3435532Where are they coming from?  Perhaps there should be stronger regulations about bringing them into the country/putting them on the streets and pavements instead of having to play catch up because they have not been registered and licensed as the motorbikes that they are.Surely we should somehow be making sure that everyone knows exactly what is and isn't legal on our streets so that nobody can accidentally buy something that they can't use legally.

Philippa Bond ● 5d7 Comments

Oh no, queue a Carter rant.

Andy Pike ● 4d

Perhaps the answer is that all bikes have registration plates apart from children’s bikes.

Robert Wheeler ● 4d

Imports of E-bikes:-"While annual sales are roughly 150,000, proposals to remove tariffs on Chinese imports aimed to increase this by an additional 31,000 units per year."

David Ainsworth ● 4d

The Glasgow police seem to take action sometimes - but perhaps it helps if the local inspector play golf? :-)https://www.glasgowtimes.co.uk/news/25944967.e-bikes-dalmuir-golf-course-destroyed-within-14-days/

Michael Ixer ● 4d

Yes, Michael, I think what you describe is the bind the police are in. However, because the riders are wearing balaclavas and the bikes don't need reg. plates, then it is impossible to identify them on the road. The police don't want to chase because it puts others at risk and there is little chance they will catch them. It does seem to me that there needs to be a bit of imagination in trying to get on top of this issue; the police seem a bit flat-footed in trying to sort it out.Maybe, confiscate the bikes because they have grounds to suspect they are being used on the road, and let the owners demonstrate / prove how and where they are being used off road? Transport arrangements etc. I don't know, just thinking aloud, really.

Gerry Boyce ● 4d

Gerry, I think the problem is that these bikes can be used off of the public roads so possession of one at home or, for example, transporting it in a registered motor vehicle isn't illegal. Using it on a public highway is so it seems to me they have to be "caught in the act".

Michael Ixer ● 4d

Yes, fair points. The guys I see going around on these bikes at high speed weaving in and out of traffic, no lights at night, on pavements and paths etc. couldn’t care less if they are legal bikes. The police seem to have lots of excuses why they can’t chase them or attempt to stop them when they’re on the road. To a certain extent I can understand that.But they also claim they know who these guys are and where they live; then why not go around and confiscate their bikes?

Gerry Boyce ● 5d