At long last! A crackdown on the growing menace of electric bikes and scooters
A new campaign launched by Crimestoppers is urging the public to report instances of dangerous and illegal use of off-road motorbikes, mopeds, e-bikes and e-scooters.
It comes amid growing concerns that the vehicles are becoming a threat to the public, with the bikes being ridden in residential areas, on town centre pavements and parks.
The charity says it has been inundated with reports of members of the public being terrorised by riders.
Examples include a farmer in Dumfries who found his fields had been ripped up overnight, costing him thousands of pounds in repairs and increased security and an elderly lady in Edinburgh who almost stepped into the path of a bus to avoid a bike on the pavement crashing into her.
In February, Whinhill Golf Club in Greenock, Renfrewshire, was badly damaged by people riding off road bikes on the fairways.
Angela Parker National Manager of Crimestoppers, said: 'We heard from many people who felt scared and threatened by the increased use of illegal off-road bikes.
'This illegal activity also damages the environment and heritage, taking years to recovers and costing thousands to repair.
'Our campaign aims to support communities in reporting anonymously to our charity and providing information on where people can safely and legally enjoy riding their bike.'
Crimestoppers is asking members of the public to report who is riding the bikes or a description of riders, information on where they are being stored.
Last December, it emerged that almost 300 dangerous e-scooters and e-bikes were seized by police in the first nine months of 2024 amid a spike in illegal modifications.
Officers removed 281 vehicles from the roads after finding they exceeded speed and power limits. In comparison, just 91 were seized in the previous two years.
Under Scots law, e-scooters are only legal on private land.
They should have a maximum speed of 15.5mph and a maximum power of 250 watts. E-bikes, which can be used on cycle paths and public roads, should always come with pedals and the motor should not be able to power it above 15.5mph.
Victims and Community Safety Minister Siobhian Brown said: 'I'm pleased to support this important campaign. Using off-road vehicles illegally is dangerous, anti-social and can cause huge disruption to residents in local communities as well as causing damage to parks, playing fields and the natural environment.
'Crimestoppers enables individuals to report crime anonymously and these reports help the police to tackle this crime. Together, we can make a real difference.'
Councillor Stephen McCabe, leader of Inverclyde Council, said: 'These bikes are causing untold damage and misery in our community, damaging public and private property and leaving residents feeling scared and intimidated, which is simply unacceptable.
'Areas like Grieve Road have been particularly affected by the rise in off-road bikes and the course at Whinhill Golf Club, which the council owns, has also been damaged so there is a cost to the taxpayers to repair the fairways and greens, not to mention the inconvenience caused for golfers and staff.'
'As with most things, the authorities need the help of the public to tackle this problem by reporting illegal and anti-social activity and Crimestoppers is a way in which people can do that and do it completely anonymously.'
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