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David Grundy News, Canton, Cardiff
Dozens of illegal e-bikes and scooters, including one which could reach speeds of 86mph (138kph), have been seized in a month-long police operation.
Cardiff Council and South Wales Police worked together to target the use of illegal MPVs, or mechanically propelled vehicles, throughout August.
A total of 135 were seized by officers in problem areas including Cowbridge Road East in Canton, Albany Road in Roath and Crwys Road in Cathays.
The fastest vehicle seized was found to have a top speed of 86mph and have no functioning brakes.
Another bike which was being ridden by a 15-year-old who was carrying a pillion passenger could reach 70mph (112kph).
“The bikes we’re dealing with here on the highway are the same riders that we’re dealing with on the parkland within the city,” said Dave Sultana, who is in charge of Cardiff Council’s wardens.
“Some of our biggest complaints are from members of the public who are trying to enjoy the green spaces, but they’re unable to due to this antisocial behaviour,” he said.
With Mr Sultana’s team working alongside South Wales Police, about a dozen illegal e-bikes scooters were seized in under an hour on Cowbridge Road East, Canton.
“They’re clearly dangerous, especially when they’re shooting past you on a busy street like this,” he said. “Some of them have modifications that are illegal, and they’re illegal for a reason.”
What is the law on electric bikes?
It is legal to ride an electric bike without a driving licence and they do not need to be registered, taxed or insured.
But they need to meet certain criteria.
E-bikes must have pedals, the motor should not be able to provide power to the wheels when travelling above 15.5mph (25kmph) and it should only be used on cycle paths and roads, according to Department for Transport regulations.
Any bike that travels faster than the limit and has more than a 250-watt output is classed as a motor vehicle and is subject to rules of the Road Traffic Act.
Neighbourhood policing teams have been given more resources to try and tackle things like anti-social behaviour, theft and shoplifting.
It has enabled South Wales Police to carry out a month-long operation to get illegal e-bikes off the streets in the Canton, Cathays and Roath areas of Cardiff.
“We’ve seized bikes that can do speeds of between 85 and 90mph (128kph to 144kph),” said Insp Tim Ursell.
“This is a real effort to put resources back on our streets and deal with the stuff people round here tell us is a real problem,” he said.
During the operation police officers also made arrests for other issues including the possession of weapons and the supply of Class A drugs.
After the illegal bikes have been seized they are taken away to be dismantled and scrapped.
Their batteries are removed so they do not explode when they are crushed, and are then recycled, but the bikes are not.
That is partly because of the sheer numbers that have been seized, but also because many of the illegal bikes have their power supplies built into the frames.
Scrapping them is seen as the most effective way of keeping the bikes off the road for good.
Police are warning that more illegal and modified e-bikes will be seized in the coming months and say they will end up on the scrap heap.
