Criminal use of bikes across the North-East

Illegal bike use is more than just a nuisance, it’s a danger to the rider and the public.

Criminal activity involving mechanically propelled bikes is an issue across the UK. There have been incidents involving mechanically propelled bikes (including e-scooters and mopeds) being ridden illegally on roads in parks, on pavements and in other public spaces, resulting in injuries to both riders and members of the public. There has also been damage to parks, fields, green spaces and private property. Often these bikes have been stolen and used in further crime transporting drugs and weapons across communities.

Our ongoing campaign in the North-East of England requests information, given to us anonymously, on those responsible for putting the public and themselves in danger, stealing bikes and committing other crimes across our communities.

Overturned motorbike

We want to increase the amount of useful community information given to us on the criminal use of these bikes, in order to help to tackle this crime, and to make our streets safer.

Help keep your community safe and tell us what you know about bikes being stolen and used illegally:

Who’s riding them illegally, what were they wearing?
Who’s putting the public and themselves in danger?
Who’s stealing bikes and committing further crimes in your community?
Where are they stored?
The exact location, date and time the bike/s were seen.
Anything distinctive - colour, make, did the bike have a number plate?

Give information, 100% anonymously, 24/7, 365 days a year. Call free on 0800 555 111 or click here to fill in our quick and easy online form:

Give information anonymously

Off-road bikes and the law

Off-road vehicles include moto-cross, trial and endurance bikes, mini motos, quad bikes and some other mechanically propelled bikes.

Off-road bikes are specially designed for off-road use only, and NOT for road use. They must comply with Construction and Use regulations 1986, and be built to a specific standard in order to be ridden on a public road.

If the bike is NOT built to this specific standard, you can only ride an off-road bike legally if it is on private land and you have the land owner’s permission, and ride with due care and attention.

Land owned by the local council is not classed as private land. Council land includes beaches, promenades, car parks, playgrounds and parks.

Riders not complying with the above face having bikes seized and could be banned from driving, fined, or sent to prison.

Find out more:

Mopeds

You need to be 16 or over to ride a moped. There are different ways to get a moped or motorcycle licence, depending on your age, what type of licence you already have, and what training you’ve done.

Further guidance can be found on the government’s website: How to get a motorcycle/moped licence.

Quad bikes

Most quad bikes do not meet road safety standards and therefore cannot be used on the road.

They need to be registered, taxed and have an MOT (if needed) to be used on the road, and the rider needs to check with the manufacturer if their quad bike has been approved for road use.

More information can be found on the government’s website: Quad Bikes: the rules.

E-bikes

These electric bikes are known as ‘electrically assisted pedal cycles’ (EAPCs).

You can ride an electric bike if you’re 14 or over, as long as it meets certain requirements.

If a bike meets EAPC requirements, it’s classed as a normal pedal bike. This means you can ride it on cycle paths and anywhere else pedal bikes are allowed. Meeting these requirements also means you do not need a licence to ride one and it does not need to be registered, taxed or insured.

If your electric bike does not meet the EAPC rules, then it’s classed as a motorcycle or moped.

More information can be found on the government’s website: Electric bikes: licensing, tax and insurance.

E-scooters

Electric scooters can only be used on private land with the landowner’s permission. It is illegal to use them on public roads, on pavements, in cycle lanes and in pedestrian-only areas.

The government is trialling a rental e-scooter scheme in a few areas of the UK, where it's legal to use a rental e-scooter on a public road or cycle lane in the trial area, provided you have the correct licence and follow road traffic regulations.

Further information on these trials can be found on the government’s website: e-scooter trial guidance.

Where can off-road bikes be ridden in the North East of England?

We are not able to endorse any of those listed, and anyone using them does so at their own risk:

Redcar Bears Speedway holds training days for users with their own bikes.
Iron Works Moto Park, Middlesbrough offers open training sessions.
Teesside Autodrome - test circuit.
Quads 4 All Hartlepool offers a pay-to-play facility in Hartlepool.
North of England XC Club hold monthly events and play days throughout the North East.
Hardwick moto parc offers pay to play facilities in Sedgefield.
PeaFarmOffRoadCentre offers pay-to-play facilities in Stanley, County Durham.
Durham & Northumbria Scramble Club Community Facebook Page advertises regional events and private pay-and-play tracks.

The below sites are involved in Green Lanes, which is driving/riding on byways open to all traffic/unclassified roads:

Green Lane Association is dedicated to the legal use of Green Lanes, which are multi-user public rights of way.
The Trail Riders Fellowship - conserving Green Roads
LARA – The Motoring Organisations' Land Access & Recreation Association promotes and advocates responsible and sustainable motor sport and recreation

Got information about illegal off-road bike activity? Tell us what you know - any time. Call 0800 555 111, or fill in our online form: