Concerns over dangerous e-bike and electric motorbike riding
Electric motorbike and e-bike riders are intimidating pedestrians and riding illegally across the UK, prompting police action and new government powers.
The Full Story
A plain summary built from the channels that reported this story.
Electric motorbike and e-bike riders are intimidating pedestrians and putting people at risk through dangerous and antisocial riding, according to residents and police across the UK. The law states these vehicles should only be driven on private land, but in many cases riders are performing wheelies and speeding along pavements.
In Burgess Hill, West Sussex, residents say e-bike gangs are a growing problem. One resident, Britt, said she and her partner were nearly knocked down as two groups of bikes came down the pavement. Another resident, David, filmed a gang of bikers in broad daylight, describing them doing wheelies and riding on the wrong side of the road. Taylor, who was riding his legal motorbike home from work, was chased by one rider and knocked off his bike. Dash cam footage shows the riders leaving the scene as Taylor lies on the roadside. An ambulance was called and he was put on a pelvic brace.
The report explains the difference between legal e-bikes and illegal e-motorbikes. Legal e-bikes have pedals and a motor that only assists the rider, capped at 15.5 miles per hour. E-motorbikes are more powerful, often have a throttle, and very few models are road legal. Police say they will seize and destroy these bikes if seen on the road. In one incident, an e-bike rider tried to violently escape after being stopped, but was detained and his bike seized.
The government says it has given police new powers to seize vehicles being used anti-socially without the need to issue a warning first, and wants to introduce fast track disposal of any bikes taken off the streets.
On screen
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Key Claims
Claims reported during this story's coverage, mapped by channel. Ordered by how many channels carried each claim.
| Claim | BBC News | BBC One |
|---|---|---|
| Legal e-bikes have pedals, assist the rider, and are capped at 15.5 miles per hour. | ||
| Police said they will seize and destroy illegal e-bikes found on the road. | ||
| The government wants to introduce fast track disposal of seized bikes. | ||
| The law states that e-motorbikes should only be driven on private land. |
Channel Perspectives
What each channel focused on, with key quotes.
This report focuses on the local impact in Burgess Hill, with detailed accounts from residents and a clear explanation of the legal difference between e-bikes and e-motorbikes. It frames the issue as a community safety problem and highlights the police response and new government powers.
- “I've seen them aiming at people. I've seen like little old ladies have to run. I've seen little kids being aimed at.”
- “It was like they were aiming at us to the point where I had to push him out of the way.”
- “The government says it's given police new powers to seize vehicles that are being anti-socially without the need to issue a warning first.”
This report presents the story as a nationwide issue, with the same footage and interviews but framed by a national news bulletin. It includes the same details on the law, the difference between e-bikes and e-motorbikes, and the government's new powers, but does not add any additional local context.
- “Fast, agile, and ridden illegally.”
- “The government says it's given police new powers to seize vehicles that are being anti-socially without the need to issue a warning first.”
- “So if they see them on the road, police will seize and destroy these bikes.”
Broadcast Timeline
News broadcasts tracked for this story, in time order.