Police seize illegally modified pedal bike that can reach speeds of more than 80mph
Northumbria Police have taken an illegally modified pedal bike off Sunderland’s roads.
Northumbria Police’s dedicated motorbike disorder team, Op Capio, were alerted to a pedal bike travelling in front of their car on Durham Road, in Sunderland, last week.
Despite the rider not pedalling once, the bike managed to reach speeds of well over 35mph - meaning it had been modified and is illegal to ride on the North East’s streets.
Officers stopped the rider and a test of the bike revealed that it could reach a dangerous speed of 83.2mph, making it the fastest illegally modified pedal bike the Op Capio team have came across.
As a result, the bike was seized under section 165 of the Road Traffic Act.
PC Jamie Allan, of Sunderland’s Op Capio team said: “The speed that this bike could potentially reach is incredibly worrying.
“Not only is it a danger to the rider, who chose not to wear a helmet while travelling at ludicrous speeds, it’s a danger to members of the public who are going about their day-to-day life.
“If a pedestrian was hit by an illegally modified pedal cycle travelling at 80mph, the outcome would most likely be life-changing, if not fatal.
“Nobody should have to worry about the dangers of illegally modified pedal cycles on our streets.
“That is why we have dedicated motorbike disorder teams across the force area, tackling the issue at hand on a daily basis.
PC Allan has also asked members of the public to continue tackling illegal bikes being used across the city.
He added: “We’d ask members of the public to please keep working with us.
“If you see an illegally modified pedal cycle or electric motorbike being ridden dangerously, report it.
“By doing so, we can ensure we’re targeting the right places at the right time.”
Councillor Lindsey Leonard, Cabinet Member for Environment, Transport and Net Zero at Sunderland City Council, has echoed PC Allan’s message to the public.
She commented: "I'm delighted to see this dangerous illegally modified pedal cycle being taken off our streets as part of Operation Capio.
"We know that nuisance illegally modified pedal cycles and motorbikes and the disruption and misery they cause are a real concern for our residents.
"This is exactly the kind of result we were looking for when we joined forces with Northumbria Police to set up the joint taskforce to tackle motorcycle disorder as part of Operation Capio.
"And I'd echo the police’s call for anyone who sees an illegally modified pedal cycle being ridden dangerously to report it.”
Following the seizure of the bike, Northumbria Police are urging members of the public to familiarise themselves with the use of electric assisted pedal cycles before they considering purchasing or riding one.
For an electric assisted pedal cycle to be legally used in the UK, it must have pedals used to propel it.
The bike’s electric motor must have a maximum power output of 250 watts, and you should not be able to propel the bike when it’s travelling over 15.5mph.
If you have any concerns over illegal bike-related disorder, then you can report it by sending Northumbria Police a direct message on social media, or by using the live chat or report form functions on the Force’s website.
Those who can’t contact police in these ways should call 101.