Sunderland Labour Group has pledged to continue its clampdown on dangerous e-bike riders in the city after a successful seizure programme last week.
City council leaders Councillor Michael Mordey and deputy leader Councillor Kelly Chequer said they’re doubling down on commitments made earlier this year to tackle the anti-social use of e-bikes and e-scooters, particularly in the city centre.
The vow comes after multiple organisations came together on Wednesday [July 2] to tackle motorbike disorder in the city, with neighbourhood wardens, police cadets and the city centre PCSO all working together to combat the problem.
Ten illegally adapted bikes from delivery drivers were seized under section 165 of the Road Traffic Act on High Street West, and council leaders say it is only the start of action to tackle dangerous e-bike and e-scooter driving in the city.
Councillor Chequer, deputy leader at Sunderland City Council, said: “The bikes that were seized have been adapted in a way that means they’re being driven dangerously, often around pedestrianised parts of our city putting people at risk. Enough is enough.
“We’re not willing to watch on as mindless drivers fly around our city’s streets and effectively take away the right of pedestrians to walk in safety through our streets as they go about their daily life. It’s time to reclaim our streets and this is just part of that effort.”
Northumbria Police are now looking at enforcement action on both individuals and businesses in order to tackle the problem in the long term, and – as well as seizing bikes – the team on the ground last week delivered more than 250 leaflets to members of the public and businesses on how to report ASB, to ensure the scale of the problem can be better monitored and addressed.
Cllr Chequer added: “The message is clear to people who think they can turn our high streets into danger zones. We prioritise public safety. Anyone compromising that with dangerous driving will be stopped. Their time is up.”