Misuse of electric scooters and electric bikes - Operation update

Dear Resident,

At the start of Spring, Wakefield District Off-Road Bike Team committed to carrying out 18 days of action across Wakefield, to tackle the misuse of electric scooters and electric bikes on public roads and spaces, and Friday 19th June saw the team on their 11th operation alongside Wakefield Council Community Safety Partnership, in the Central West ward area of Lupset & Thornes.

Police officers from Neighbourhood and Off-Road Bike Teams conducted dedicated patrols in the Central West ward area of Lupset & Thornes, stopping and speaking with riders of e-scooters and other electric vehicles, explaining the current legislation around their usage on public roads and spaces, offering safety advice and educating the riders about their future use.

The first three vehicles in the photos were seized from their titled locations for 
1 - Ignoring previous Police warning 
2 - Poor condition/riding
3 - No insurance & disqualified driving. 

The vehicles and riders in images 4 and 5 were issued S.59 warning for riding in an anti-social manner on the field behind Lupset Crescent and Thornes Park.

The use of E-scooters has become increasingly normalised, and many people through these social norms or misunderstanding of the law, incorrectly believe that privately owned E-scooters can be used as everyday personal transport.

While it is legal to purchase an E scooter, it is illegal to ride a privately owned E scooter on public roads, pavements, cycle lanes, or public land unless the rider complies with several strict legal requirements. E scooters are classified as ‘powered transporters,’ which places them within the legal definition of a motor vehicle. As a result, riders would need to meet the same legal obligations required for cars or motorbikes including valid insurance, MOT, road tax and vehicle registration.

West Yorkshire Police remain committed to tackling all forms illegal and anti-social vehicular use. Where riders continue to use an E scooter after a prior warning, or where the E-scooter is used dangerously, poses a clear safety risk, or forms part of wider offending then immediate enforcement action will be taken, including the seizure of the vehicle and the prosecution of the rider.

For more information about how these vehicles can be used legally visit www.gov.uk/electric-scooter-rules or www.gov.uk/electric-bike-rules