For years e -bikes and e-motorcycles have been a loophole to people under the age of 16 to ride these motorized bikes without needing a license to do so. But recently, cops are starting to care and take away these bikes, but why?
Although e-bikes are generally very safe and fun, under the wrong group of people they can become very dangerous. Recently, groups of teens on e-bikes gang up in the streets, running red lights and vandalizing all over the city streets. These bikes can be very dangerous because they can reach high speeds of 50-80 mph and are very light and agile.
A recent report on e-motos, located in Glendale, California, reports that a group of six kids on bikes were riding dangerously and also tearing up the grass while doing so. This happened at Dunsmore Park. According to Sgt. Pobokhian, “We have taken a proactive and enforcement-focused approach to addressing the illegal operation of e-motorcycles on city streets and in public parks.” This quote shows the serious concerns about e-bikes and how to keep them from acting out in public.
Another recent report on e-motos in Sacramento was about a group of teen e-moto riders assaulting a father and his daughter. The father was walking his dog and daughter along the Roseville Trail at around nine pm on Friday when out of nowhere a group of teens rode by and spit on them. According to the text, “I posted this online, and dozens of people shared similar stories about it,” said Cozen. “Attacks or unsafe behavior about e-bike gangs riding around.” These quotes show the community’s worries about the safety of the riders and themselves.
E-motos are giving people the opportunities to have fun or put themselves and others into dangerous situations. While police departments work hard to stop them and do whatever they can to keep the community safe. It poses one question, will these problems with these bikes ever stop and will the people who ride, ride responsibly?