Hartlepool MP Jonathan Brash urges parents to 'think twice' about buying their children powerful electric bikes for Christmas
As Christmas approaches, I want to urge parents across Hartlepool to please think twice before buying your children powerful electric bikes that look more like miniature motorbikes.
I understand the appeal. They look exciting, they are heavily advertised and children naturally want what their friends have.
But many of these machines are not legal electric bicycles.
They are effectively unregistered motor vehicles and cannot lawfully be ridden on our roads without the appropriate approvals, registration, insurance and licensing.
They cannot simply be ridden on pavements or through our parks either.
This isn’t about spoiling children’s fun. It is about protecting our communities.
I recently spoke to a police officer who told me about a child whose electric bike had been seized and crushed after they had owned it for only a very short time.
Imagine the disappointment for that child but also the frustration for parents who may have spent hundreds of pounds on something that has effectively been lost.
The important message is that the police are taking action. These are not empty warnings. Where illegal vehicles are being used, officers have powers to intervene, seize them and ensure they are destroyed.
Parents need to understand that buying one of these bikes does not give their child permission to ride it wherever they please.
Nor does the fact that other children appear to be riding them make it legal.
I have written to every school in Hartlepool asking them to help get this message out to parents and pupils.
We need a joined-up effort to make sure families understand the rules before Christmas, rather than learning an expensive lesson afterwards.
There are genuine safety concerns here.
Powerful, fast-moving machines being ridden irresponsibly put children, pedestrians, motorists and other road users at risk. Our parks, pavements and public spaces must be safe for everyone, including older residents, families with young children and people with disabilities.
I want children to enjoy Christmas, get outdoors and have the freedom to be active.
But there are perfectly good, legal alternatives.
So please, don’t waste your money. Check before you buy. And don’t let an expensive Christmas present become a dangerous mistake.
This is about keeping our children safe and protecting the communities we all share.