Illegal E-Motorbike Riders: A Growing Concern in Communities
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Anger and fear over ‘dangerous’ illegal e-motorbike riders
By Ben Moore, South East Investigations
Riders on powerful electric motorbikes are causing concern in communities across the UK. Residents report them performing dangerous stunts, including riding on pavements and footpaths at high speed, often while wearing balaclavas.
"I’ve seen little old ladies have to run," says Britt, who lives in Burgess Hill, West Sussex, and has personally experienced the fear these riders instil. "’I’ve seen little kids being aimed at.’"
The government has introduced new powers to allow police to seize vehicles used for anti-social behavior without first issuing a warning.
Concerns and Consequences
Deputy Mayor David Eggleton from the area shares similar fears:
"I’ve seen people doing wheelies, riding on the wrong side of the road, and behaving in a way that is dangerous to themselves and intimidating towards others."
He has documented some of this activity on his phone, capturing riders performing wheelies and racing through streets while masked.
Residents are not only worried about potential collisions but also the anonymity provided by face coverings and the speed of the bikes, which some believe could make them attractive to criminals.
Simon, a resident near a football club, had a near-miss with a gang of e-motorbike riders.
"It’s a narrow path, you don’t really have any room to get out of the way, and then all of a sudden there was a rush of movement behind," he recalls.
Sussex Police continues to enforce against illegal riders. However, the issue has taken a tragic turn, with the death of 86-year-old Gloria Stephenson in Sunderland in May 2025, after being struck on a zebra crossing by an illegally ridden e-motorbike.
