A modified pushbike capable of travelling at more than 50mph was one of three illegal electric bikes seized during an operation by plain-clothed officers.
The officers were responding to residents’ concerns about dangerous and antisocial riding in and around the Inham Nook Recreation Ground in Chilwell when the bike was seized.
The rider, a teenage boy wearing a balaclava and no helmet, had modified a regular pedal cycle by adding an aftermarket motor to the rear wheel.
Roadside dynamometer testing revealed that the bike had a potential speed of 86kph – just over 53mph – which made it a motorcycle in law.
No appropriate enhancements had been made to the brakes or tyres, which were found to be almost bald on further inspection.
Two other bikes were seized during the two-day operation on 15 and 16 June, and the riders were dealt with for road traffic offences.
One of the riders, another teenage boy, was returned home to his parents, who were given words of advice.
Four other riders were stopped and found to be operating safe and legal cycles.
PC Dean Bardill explained:
“We know this is an issue of significant local concern, with riders at best causing a nuisance and at worst posing a danger to pedestrians on local footpaths.
“It is also the case that many of these bikes are used in the commission of drug dealing and other serious criminal offences.
“That’s why we take this issue so seriously and why we have changed tactics to confront it head-on.
“Fundamentally, this is about public safety, which is why I am appealing for parents to understand the dangers of allowing their children to modify bikes in this way.
“The brakes and tyres, in particular, are simply not designed to operate at such high speeds, which greatly increases the risk of serious or fatal injuries to the rider.”
“You can ride an electric bike, or an “electrically assisted pedal cycle” (EAPC), without a licence or insurance if you are aged 14 or over.”
