'Significant increase' in illegal e-bike riding

The illegal use of e-bikes and e-scooters has "increased significantly" in recent months, a council has been warned.

A motion before West Oxfordshire District Council (WODC) makes the claim and proposes measures to raise awareness of the dangers.

They include a district-wide public awareness campaign aimed at young people and parents, as well as a call for the police to prioritise enforcement.

It comes after Thames Valley Police released a video showing two youths riding an e-bike at night in Wantage, with no lights, helmets or safety equipment.

Currently anyone over the age of 14 can ride a legal e-bike, as long as it has pedals, has an output of no more than 250W and the motor does not power the bike at speeds above 15mph (24 kmph).

But police forces have seen a large number being converted to travel faster than 15mph and without pedals or brakes. They have also been associated with anti-social behaviour.

The motion before WODC was put forward by Hailey, Minster Lovell and Leafield ward member Liam Walker.

It states: "Residents, schools, businesses, and community groups have raised concerns about dangerous riding, use of e-bikes on pavements, the lack of helmets, and underage riders.

"Illegal and unsafe e-bike use poses risks to pedestrians, other road users, and to the riders themselves."

It also calls for the council to explore opportunities for funding community safety initiatives such as cycle safety workshops, signage, and school engagement projects.

The video released by police on social media shows dashcam footage of two youth riding an e-bike along dark streets.

It said such activity was "becoming all too common".

"Public safety is our core duty and we cannot ignore the growing number of young people in Wantage risking serious harm by riding illegal electric bikes," police said.

"These electric bikes are illegal. They are not toys - they are powerful machines, and many young people simply do not understand the risks they are taking, or the dangers they pose to others."

The motion is due to be discussed at a meeting of the full council on Thursday.

What is the law on electric bikes?

E-bike motors must not exceed 250W and must cut out when the bike reaches 15.5mph

• It is legal to ride an electric bike without a driving licence and they do not need to be registered, taxed or insured.

• But they need to meet certain requirements.

• E-bikes must have pedals, the motor should not be able to provide power to the wheels when travelling above 15.5mph (25kmph) and it should only be used on cycle paths and roads.

• Any bike that travels faster than the limit and has more than a 250-watt output is classed as a motor vehicle and is subject to the Road Traffic Act.