Electric Bikes

[Heym SR20]

Yesterday evening driving back into the middle of Edinburgh I nearly had a head on collision.

An Electric motorbike was coming up one of the streets on the wrong side of the road going much faster than the traffic. He had no lights on, he was dressed in black, with a full balaclava. I was doing perhaps 10 mph. He then mounted the pavement through lots coming out of the pubs etc.

This seems to be an everyday occurrence for most who live, walk and drive around the city. A lot are Deliveroo or Justeat, but many are not.

Mostly these seem big electric motor bikes that are capable of doing well over 30 mph, as they seem to be able over traffic at will.

Sooner or later there is going to major incident where one of these idiots kills multiple people.

A few months ago in broad daylight I saw two of these do wheelies straight past Fettes Police HQ.

 

[Apthorpe]

The vehicle of choice for muggers and thieves these days.
The failure to properly legalise electric scooters and bikes, which are the most environmentally friendly form of transport by far, has caused a situation where they are used very effectively by criminals. So long as everyone else emits much more pollution and makes ill-thought out complaints about these vehicles, we're open to more crime and needlessly keeping further from a voluntary net zero.
An electric bike doesnt do anything other motorbikes do, and isn't more dangerous.

 

[Cyres]

Everyday occuence down here. We have issues with electric scooters electric bikes and unlicensed small off road motorbikes.
No.police to enforce any kind of action.
D

 

[nun_hunter]

Everyday occuence down here. We have issues with electric scooters electric bikes and unlicensed small off road motorbikes.
No.police to enforce any kind of action.
D

The last time the police did chase a powerful electric bike it ended with two kids dying, a town rioting, national condemnation and the two coppers still stuck on under investigation. No wonder they don't want to (or are actively told not to) try and stop people on them.

 

[chriswjx]

Have to say, I've yet to see one go over 20 mph to be honest with you.

I have seen road cyclists go faster than 20 mph but not the electric ones.

I would say though, the delivery ones are an absolute menace - no understanding how roads work (even worse than the typical cyclists). Especially when you watch them tapping away at their work phone on the handle bars, and having their actual phone up to their ear as they chat to their pals. All whilst going at 20 mph...

From speaking to the local cycling shop owner as well, the bikes are usually rented from some place (think one is called Zoomo - check their reviews out and you can see who their usual clients are...), and there's no maintenance done on them. He gets them chapping on the door for brakes etc, but he won't touch them because their just not road worthy at all.

 

[User00056]

I see one most mornings on my way to work. Ordinary cyclists can be enough of a hazard, but these electric bikes are dast enough to be seriously dangerous. Not only can they appear with little warning, they're almost certainly fast and heavy enough to kill or seriously injure someone in the event of a collision. I honestly think it's time for some sort of insurance or licensing scheme for these things

 

[chriswjx]

The other hazard I come across some mornings, there's 2 folk who seem to cycle in the same direction that I go on recumbent bikes. One of them is "alright" in that he has a fishing rod sticking up with a wee penant off it, but the other has no forms of visual aids, and considering their road height is about a foot and a half up, I would not be surprised if someone runs her over one day.

 

[Rake Aboot]

They are illegal motorbikes being driven by criminals .

One is now in hiding after trying to force my grandson off his scooter to steal it with two accomplices who I will also locate .

Utter scum

Edinburgh is a no go area on a motorbike now .

 

[sauer]

From what I seen read it’s the trail bike style … look like a scrambler electric bike that’s been chosen by certain elements … one been seen our small town flying at high speeds in local cycle path / dog walking path and I can only see that ending in disaster

 

[Rake Aboot]

Drug dealers buy them for their runners . Deliveroo for coke and weed

 

[Littlekilmory]

Pleased to report that the Glasgow police have started culling these idiots. Last big clamp-down (late May) seized 20 bikes. These were all unrestricted speed, throttle controls and fat tyres - these should only be ridden on the road with moped helmets, horn, lights and most importantly, insurance.
One positive thought; the batteries in these have an alarming tendency to burst into flames.

 

[Foxyboy43]

Surely they fall within AOLQ?

 

[Sonicdmb73]

Regularly see one set off from a side street on the road to my unit. Looks like a scaled down crosser lad with balaclava usually dressed in black. No lights on the bike and it does well over the speed limit in town, gets to speed very quickly too.
I have an Emtb which is a different animal, it assists you up to a maximum of 15mph, to be honest I don't like riding it on the road anyway. I bought it for forestry trails where I have less traffic to worry about.
I don't think scooters etc are going away but insurance and age limits need to be a legal requirement. Something like the motor bike CBT, so at least we get a basic standard of knowledge/skills before they are let loose on the roads.
Without the will to tackle this problem I agree it will end up with someone possibly a minor killing/maiming a pedestrian and making national headlines. Before it happens.

 

[Smellydog]

Please don't keep them in your homes!

 

[FrenchieBoy]

Please don't keep them in your homes!

The smoke that one is putting out doesn't make it look very "green"!

On a serious not I have had several occasions locally when I have been driving at around 28 MPH in a 30 limit in pretty heavy traffic and been overtaken by these "trials bike style" electric bikes doing well over the speed limit and you simply do not hear them coming. How long is it going to be before we see fatalities involving these electric bikes, (and mark my words it will happen before long) while the police seem frightened to try to stop them for fear of getting involved in a "chase" that could end up in a fatality for the rider(s) with reprocussions for the police involved?

 

[Rake Aboot]

Been a few fatalities already. Most were no loss to society

 

[Sonicdmb73]

The smoke that one is putting out doesn't make it look very "green"!

On a serious not I have had several occasions locally when I have been driving at around 28 MPH in a 30 limit in pretty heavy traffic and been overtaken by these "trials bike style" electric bikes doing well over the speed limit and you simply do not hear them coming. How long is it going to be before we see fatalities involving these electric bikes, (and mark my words it will happen before long) while the police seem frightened to try to stop them for fear of getting involved in a "chase" that could end up in a fatality for the rider(s) with reprocussions for the police involved?

Same story here, sooner or later Darwins theory will come to pass. But as usual those picking up the pieces will have to live with the consequences.
The problem is the ones using these bikes know that they can with virtual impunity, until the police get a change of policy with regards stopping/pursuing said bikes it won't change.

 

[starr shot]

Same story here, sooner or later Darwins theory will come to pass. But as usual those picking up the pieces will have to live with the consequences.
The problem is the ones using these bikes know that they can with virtual impunity, until the police get a change of policy with regards stopping/pursuing said bikes it won't change.

Check on the internet of the police stopping these bikes by driving into them there are only a few but it is very satisfying to watch

 

[patrickt]

Yesterday evening driving back into the middle of Edinburgh I nearly had a head on collision.

An Electric motorbike was coming up one of the streets on the wrong side of the road going much faster than the traffic. He had no lights on, he was dressed in black, with a full balaclava. I was doing perhaps 10 mph. He then mounted the pavement through lots coming out of the pubs etc.

This seems to be an everyday occurrence for most who live, walk and drive around the city. A lot are Deliveroo or Justeat, but many are not.

Mostly these seem big electric motor bikes that are capable of doing well over 30 mph, as they seem to be able over traffic at will.

Sooner or later there is going to major incident where one of these idiots kills multiple people.

A few months ago in broad daylight I saw two of these do wheelies straight past Fettes Police HQ.

They should taxed and insured like any other MECHANICALLY DRIVEN ROAD USER!!. I do quite a bit of walking, and on numerous occasions have had the living day lights knocked out of me by the inconsiderate users!!!


Patrick

 

[Heym SR20]

They should taxed and insured like any other MECHANICALLY DRIVEN ROAD USER!!. I do quite a bit of walking, and on numerous occasions have had the living day lights knocked out of me by the inconsiderate users!!!


Patrick

Exactly