Dozens of illegal e-bikes and scooters seize in Cardiff Crackdown

David gundundiBBC News, Canton, Cardiff

A total of 135 illegal e-bikes and e-scooters were seized in Cardiff in a month-long operation

A large pile of BBC mountain bikes piled up next to each other inside an orange metal shipping container. — A total of 135 illegal e-bikes and e-scooters were seized in Cardiff in a month-long operation

Dozens of illegal e-bikes and scooters, one of which can reach a speed of 86Mph (138kph), seized in one month police operations.

Cardiff Council and South Wales Police worked together in August to target the use of illegal MPV, or mechanically motivated vehicles.

A total of 135 were seized by the officials in the problem areas including the Cowbridge Road East in Canton, Albani Road in Roth and Cross Road in Cautage.

The fastest vehicle seized was found in the top speed of 86mph and there was no functioning brake.

Another bike that was riding by a 15 -year -old man, carrying a Pillian passenger could reach 70mph (112kph).

Dave Sultana, in -charge of the Warden of the Cardiff Council, said, “The bikes we are working on the highway here are the same riders with whom we are working with Parkland within the city.”

He said, “Some of our biggest complaints are from the members of the public who are trying to enjoy green places, but they are unable for this anti -social behavior.”

Dave Sultana of Cardiff Council is in charge of the warden of the city who is working with the police to deal with the illegal bike

Dave, a man with a shaved head and a black shirt wearing gray beard and a yellow hi-viz vest looks directly into the camera. She is also wearing a radio with an earpiece and body -rune camera. He stands near a Sunny High Street. — Dave Sultana of Cardiff Council is in charge of the warden of the city who is working with the police to deal with the illegal bike

Along with working with the South Wales Police with Shri Sultana’s team, about a dozen illegal e-bike scooters were seized within an hour at the Cowbridge Road East, Canton.

“They are clearly dangerous, especially when they are shooting you on a busy road like this,” he said. “Some of them have modifications that are illegal, and they are illegal for a reason.”

Many bikes seized have been revised with powerful illegal motors

The three mountain bikes are loaded with the back of a pick-up truck. A council officer next to the vehicle stands with his back in the camera, wearing a black T-shirt and yellow high-vision jacket with a blue label on the back — Many bikes seized have been revised with powerful illegal motors

What is the law on an electric bike?

Riding an electric bike without a driving license is legal and does not require registered, tax or insured person.

But they need to meet certain criteria,

The e-bike should have a paddle, the motor should not be able to provide electricity to the wheels while traveling above 15.5mph (25 kmph) and it should only be used on cycle paths and roads, according to the department for transport regulations.

Any bike that travels faster than the border and outputs more than 250-watt is classified as a motor vehicle and is subject to the rules of the Road Traffic Act.

Illegal bikes cannot be recycled, and scrap may end in heap

A large pile of bikes, with the walls of the Brijblock around them. A green excavation can be seen on the right side of the image, waiting for the bike to grab and move. — Illegal bikes cannot be recycled, and scrap may end in heap

Neighborhood policing teams have been given more resources to try and deal with things like anti -social behavior, theft and shoplifting.

This has enabled the South Wales Police to complete a month-to-month operation to get illegal e-bikes on the roads in Cardif’s Canton, Catatches and Roth areas.

Inspection Tim Ursel said, “We have seized a bike that can move between 85 and 90mph (128kph to 144kph).”

He said, “This is a real effort to bring back resources on our streets and deal with those who tell us that there is a real problem.”

During the operation, police officers also arrested for other issues including weapons possession and supply of class A drugs.

Police has warned more illegal and revised e-bikes that it will be seized in the coming months

A skip is filled with dozens of bikes, all complicated together with their frames and wheels. — Police has warned more illegal and revised e-bikes that it will be seized in the coming months

After seizing the illegal bike, they are removed and removed.

Their battery is removed, so they do not explode when they are crushed, and then recycled, but there are no bikes.

This is due to partially seized sheer numbers, but also because their power supply in many illegal bikes is manufactured in the frame.

Scrapping them is seen as the most effective way of keeping the bike away from the road for good.

Police are warning that more illegal and revised e-bikes will be confiscated in the coming months and will be said that they will end on the scrap pile.