GET-TOUGH police are cracking down on electric bikes in Colchester after reports of some being ridden at 45mph — three times the legal limit.
Police say they will seize and destroy illegal e-bikes and e-scooters which can put the public at risk.
The legal speed limit is 15mph but there have been reports of them travelling much faster.
Concerns have been raised about the risks of "powerful, uninsured" vehicles by Colchester Civic Society.
Chairman Jo Edwards emphasised the distinction between legal and illegal e-bikes:
She said: “We’re not talking here about the legal, experimental dott/Tier e-bikes and scooters, although there are inevitably some issues with their misuse.
"The big concern is with privately owned, powerful, illegal and uninsured e-bikes often traveling at high speeds and sometimes even on the pavement.”
Mrs Edwards praised the police’s proactive measures.
She said: “We were pleased to learn of the actions the police have been taking to tackle this menace, by educating the riders, seizing and destroying illegal bikes, and, in some cases, prosecuting the riders.”
Former councillor Simon Crow echoed her concerns, highlighting the dangers posed by unregulated vehicles:
“The Tier e-bikes and e-scooters, which are part of an ongoing Essex County Council trial, are the only ones legal to use on the roads in Essex," he said.
"Tragically, two children were recently killed in Basildon while riding a privately owned e-scooter.
"I cycle myself and occasionally use e-scooters to get around, so I support these sustainable alternatives to car use when possible and convenient, and, of course, good old-fashioned walking too.
"But I was horrified to hear that the police had confiscated some e-bikes doing 45mph.
"The legal speed limit for e-bikes and e-scooters is 15mph, and at these high speeds, if one of these unlicensed and uninsured machines is involved in an accident with a pedestrian, the result could be serious injury or even be fatal.”
There is a distinction between the vehicles as you can ride a private e-bike on roads but not a privately owned e-scooter.
Essex Police's website has explained the legalities around privately owned e-scooters.
It said: "It's not currently possible to get insurance for privately owned e-scooters.
"This means it’s illegal to use them on the road or in public spaces, such as parks, street pavements, and shopping centres.
"If you use a privately-owned e-scooter in public, you risk the vehicle being seized under S.165 Road Traffic Act 1988 for having no insurance.
"If you cause serious harm to another person whilst riding an e-scooter, the incident will be investigated in the same way it would if you were riding a motorcycle or driving a car."
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