War on illegal minimotos

A new clampdown on illegal minimotos has been anounced by the Local Government Association, following four deaths and a huge increase in bikes ridden on public land.

A three-point plan to tackle the problems has been unveiled:

Work with the police to seize and crush bikes driven illegally and serve ABSOs and noise notices on persistent offenders.

Look to set-up managed sites where bikes can be driven legally and safely.

Ensure that bikes are advertised appropriately.

“These bikes are blighting peoples’ lives, tearing up public parks, and even causing deaths on our roads. Councils and the police will seize and crush bikes that aer driven on public land. People who continually flout the law can also expect to be served with ASBOs or prosecuted,” said Cllr Alison King, Chair of the LGA’s Children and Young People board.

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“However, local authorites should look into providing safely monitored race tracks, similar to BMX parks. Young people would be allowed to ride mini-bikes safely and without cuasing a nuisance to other people.”

So far Coventry Council has seized around 80 bikes and served three ABSos, distributing wrecked bikes around the city centre as a warning. Nottingham has crushed 81 bikes, Southwark is curshing bikes for street furniture, and Doncaster has served 640 noise notices, seized 45 bikes and undertaken 48 joint operations with the police to tackle off-road bikes.

Slough council has started a school education programme, but so far, just Swansea is in the process of proposing the first off-road bike track in Wales, in conjunction with the ACU.