MINI-MOTORBIKES have been criticised as too dangerous with critics warning it’s only a matter of time before somebody is seriously hurt or killed.
That was the verdict of the police and a Paphos resident, who claims that young people are riding around recklessly in the town.
Jill Ferguson explained that the mini-bikes, which are two-foot high, run on petrol, and are capable of reaching speeds of up to 60mph, “are very small, meaning it’s difficult for drivers to see them. I’ve seen youngsters from the age of around 11 on them and it seems to be a craze amongst them. The worrying thing is that parents are buying them for their children and I’ve even seen a couple of local shops which line them up in their window displays.”
President of the Consumers’ Association, Petros Marcou, told the Sunday Mail that “the government must ensure that these bikes are safe for consumers and that they satisfy strict, specific and obligatory safety requirements. It’s also very important that riders drive responsibly and carefully.”
Director of Traffic Police, Doros Achilleos, said the bikes “are considered to be toys and not vehicles. Their use on public roads is illegal and they can only be ridden on private land. Anybody caught using them on a public road will be prosecuted under article 236 of the criminal code and will be taken to court. In my opinion, these bikes are far too dangerous for children.”
The bikes have recently hit the headlines in the UK, with police officers warned not to chase teenagers who are illegally riding them, for fear the lawbreakers could hurt themselves trying to get away.
According to the Sunday Express, youngsters tear down public streets balanced precariously on the bikes without wearing crash helmets or protective clothing.
Under the British Police Reform Act, officers have the power to fine riders if a complaint has been logged and can, in the worst cases, confiscate and even destroy the bikes.
British MP Sion Simon said the bikes not only damaged the environment and caused misery to residents, but also put the public at risk. He told fellow MPs that police in the West Midlands had reportedly been instructed not to chase teens, “as a mini-bike is difficult and dangerous to catch.”
Home Office Minister Andy Burnham told the Sunday Express that he knew first-hand how dangerous the bikes could be because a 13-year-old rider in his Leigh constituency died last summer after falling off one.
“We need to protect our children from these things, which are basically being sold as toys even though they are mechanical vehicles propelled by petrol. They are not toys and can reach high speeds.”
In Scotland, forces have taken a tough line on the trade, launching a pre-Christmas campaign warning that the must-have presents could land parents in trouble and children in hospital.
Sergeant David Burns of the Dumfries mobile support group said, “we increasingly receive complaints about young people riding them on roads, footpaths and in parks without helmets, insurance or a license. We want to get the message out that these machines can be very dangerous before the worst happens.”
The bikes range in price from £150 to £400 but are popular with children between the ages of six and 16. They come equipped with race-prepared 49cc engines, disc brakes, race exhausts and reinforced frames capable of carrying an adult.
In the UK, the craze has claimed five lives in the last 12 months.
