As powerful electric motorbikes such as those from brands like Sur Ron and Talaria become more popular, especially with teens, police departments in the US are increasingly cracking down on their use on public roads.
One of the latest examples comes to us from the Manhattan Beach Police Department in Los Angeles County.
The MBPD has seen an uptick in juveniles riding Sur Ron-style electric motorbikes, which fall far outside the regulatory limits of electric bicycles. These higher-performance vehicles can reach speeds twice as fast as legal electric bicycles and often feature 5x the power level. Critically, they also lack pedals and thus function more like light electric dirt bikes.
According to a recent post shared by the MBPD, the police department has continued to come across these vehicles being ridden by juveniles around the city. “Parents, please make sure those Christmas presents are being used legally and responsibly,” the MHBP stated, “so we don’t have to play the role of the Grinch.”
Further clarifying, the police department explained that such motorbikes aren’t legal for use on public roads or bike paths. “Talaria, Surron, ERidePro, and other similar-type electric motorcycles are not safe or legal for operation on city streets, sidewalks, or The Strand. A few juveniles have learned the hard way and found their ‘bikes’ on the back of a tow truck.”
The MHBP also shared an image below of multiple electric motorbikes being towed away. Ironically, one of the police vehicles at the scene is a police-issue electric-assist patrol bicycle.
More teens turning to high-power electric motorbikes
These powerful e-motorbikes are often marketed as electric bicycles, despite falling well outside the line of electric bicycle regulations. But because they’re readily available online, easy to ride, and are often improperly marketed as not requiring a license or registration for street use, they’ve proven popular with teens and young riders.
California recently passed new legislation more clearly delineating electric bicycle classifications, further underscoring the illegal nature of riding these types of vehicles on the road without proper motor vehicle registration.
However, many riders, particularly teens, are unaware that these bikes do not meet the legal requirements for bike paths or unlicensed street use, leading to traffic stops, fines, and sometimes even confiscations.
Top comment by Won'tGetFooledAgain
I'm confused. If it has two wheels, a motor, and no pedals; isn't it a motor cycle and subject to existing laws, regardless of its performance characteristics? In my state, if you are under 16, you can't obtain a license to operate a motor vehicle regardless of how many wheels it has. How many of these teen riders are wearing helmets and pads? Parents?
Law enforcement officials, as well as community watchdogs, often cite concerns about pedestrian safety, traffic violations, and the risk of accidents.
We’ve seen these crackdowns increase over the years as more police departments are forced to tackle the growing phenomenon of powerful electric motorbikes being ridden on public streets and bike paths as if they were normal electric bicycles.
The crackdown underscores the need for better education regarding these high-powered electric motorbikes, as they continue to rise in popularity among younger users.
via: MBNews
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