Residents have witnessed them ‘pulling wheelies, jumping red lights and intimidating people’
Blaby ward councillor Paul Hartshorn took to his Facebook page to report the issue
People in a Leicestershire village have described “reckless” illegal e-bike riders pulling wheelies, jumping red lights and intimidating residents late at night.
Villager Kelvin Jordan is among a number of residents in Blaby who say the problem is only getting worse amid growing calls for a more visible police presence.
Mr Jordan said: “On Friday night I was driving down the road past what used to be the County Arms at the traffic lights.
“There’s two – I wouldn’t call them e-bikes, I’d call them scooters – but they’ve got two up on these two e-bikes pulling wheelies behind me. None of them had helmets, and they went straight through the red lights.
“They’re on the cul-de-sac I live on pulling wheelies, and also if you walk back through Blaby about 10 o’clock at night, they’re all going through the centre putting wheelies as well.”
Kelvin Jordan lives in Blaby – he says the problem with e-bikes in the area is getting worse(Image: Supplied)
The 65-year-old said he felt there needed to be more of a police presence around in the area at 9 or 10pm when they are known to be out.
It is not the only report of young adults riding e-bikes dangerously.
Ward councillor Paul Hartshorn took to his Facebook page on Sunday, May 10, to say he had a number of reports from concerned Blaby residents about “people riding electric bikes dangerously through Blaby, often wearing balaclavas and showing complete disregard for the safety of pedestrians, motorists and other road users”.
Cllr Hartshorn said: “This sort of behaviour is reckless and unacceptable. Riding at speed on pavements, pulling wheelies in the road and intimidating residents is only going to end with someone being seriously injured.”
Responding to Cllr Hartshorn’s post, one resident said: “These bikes and the people who ride them are an absolute menace and the police need to address this as soon as possible and stop this happening.”
Another said: “Same thing up at Enderby Leisure Centre, often going round the car park and neighbouring roads.”
Blaby Parish Council vice-chair Sue Jordan also spoke out about the use of e-bikes in the area(Image: Supplied)
Blaby Parish Council vice-chair Sue Jordan also spoke out about the use of e-bikes in the area.
She said: “These bikes, they drive down the pavement. They have got hoodies on and balaclavas on and they’re being rude to pedestrians.
“They drive on the roads dangerously without lights on at night. They are causing a danger to themselves and the general public, and other road users.
“We really need a police presence in the area to control the situation.”
On Monday, May 11, Blaby police reported seizing an illegal e-bike from what they described as a “balaclava’d youth”.
Blaby police posted the illegal e-bike and missing shoe on Facebook
Officers explained that one of their team had come across the young person on an illegal e-bike and, as the youth ran away, they left a shoe at the scene.
A Leicestershire Police spokesperson said: “The team from the Hinckley and Blaby Neighbourhood Policing Area (NPA) has been and continues to undertake proactive patrols and enforcement to tackle the use of illegal e-bikes and e-scooters.
“Operation Pedalfast patrols are regularly undertaken in Blaby and across other parts of the NPA, and illegal e-bikes and e-scooters are seized where and when necessary.
“The team recognises the impact antisocial behaviour and the use of such vehicles can have on our communities and provides regular updates to the public on the work undertaken. This includes the seizure of an illegal e-bike on Monday, May 11.
“Officers are also engaging with partners regarding the issue and we would encourage the public to report antisocial behaviour online by visiting https://www.leics.police.uk/ro/report/asb/asb-v3/report-antisocial-behaviour/.”
An e-bike is considered illegal for public road use in the UK if it does not meet EAPC (Electrically Assisted Pedal Cycles) rules: if it has a motor over 250W, reaches speeds above 15.5 mph (25 km/h), or has a throttle that propels it without pedalling.
