CAUGHT ON CAMERA: Reckless e-bike joyriders prompt fears of death or serious injury in Inverness city centre as mindless vandalism threatens HITRANS Hi-Bike scheme
Fears are being raised that someone could be killed or seriously hurt as joyriding e-bikers terrorise Inverness city centre.
Police and community representatives have voiced concern over the reckless behaviour of an increasing number of ‘boy racer’ youths hurtling at high speeds on the heavy battery-propelled hire bicycles.
The dangerous activity on roads, pavements and pedestrian areas has provoked numerous complaints from the public - and Police Scotland is taking action.
John McDonald, Inverness BID’s community safety manager, said: “We’re aware of it. It is pretty reckless.
“Cycling around the city centre, they’re going at considerable speeds, weaving in and out of traffic and pedestrians.
“It has the potential for accidents and serious injuries. I’m very concerned that someone will get killed or badly hurt.”
Anecdotally, many of the incidents have involved the low-cost Hi-Bike rental scheme operated by sustainable transport charity HITRANS.
But in many instances, the bikes are being taken without payment - with HITRANS reporting eight stolen from docking stations since Tuesday alone.
Only six have so far been recovered, with some dumped in parks, the river and the canal.
By yesterday morning, another 11 bikes had been wrecked, with HITRANS forced to close charging stations at Hilton Community Centre and Highland Council HQ in Glenurquhart Road.
In all, there has also been over £100,000 worth of damage or replacement costs for HITRANS’ e-bikes in the last few months in Inverness and Fort William, putting the entire scheme in jeopardy.
Reports of problems began in the school Easter holidays, with youngsters seen riding pillion with two or three aboard.
Much of the antisocial behaviour has taken place in streets near Inverness Railway Station, but also in nearby neighbourhoods.
Witnesses have seen youths cycling with passengers perched on handlebar baskets, obscuring their view, in a fashion said to be inspired by a Tik-Tok craze mimicking bicycle scenes from the 1982 movie ET.
There have been reports of e-bikes veering across and towards traffic on streets including Academy Street, Union Street, Church Street and Queensgate, as well as weaving through Falcon Square and the pedestrianised High Street.
Use of the e-bikes through a special downloaded app is meant to be restricted to people aged 16 and over.
Mr McDonald stressed: “We’re very aware of the antisocial behaviour that a minority of our young people are involved in.
“The police are aware of it too and are making efforts to dissuade them.
“I’ve witnessed it myself and my greatest fear is that there will be collisions and serious injury to pedestrians or the cyclists themselves.”
While the e-bikes have a battery-propelled speed limit of 16mph, Mr McDonald believes considerably higher speeds are being achieved by youngsters by pedalling hard on full power.
He added: “For a couple of quid, they are getting their fun, but a lot of them are doing it for devilment.”
Police Scotland’s officer with responsibility for Inverness city centre, Inspector Emma Wright, said: “Illegal use of e-bikes and dangerous riding in the city centre has been identified as a top road safety concern, with police receiving complaints directly from the public and other sources.
“In response to complaints, officers have carried out pro-active enforcement in the city.
“Officers have also been speaking to users as our focus is on educating riders on safety and legislative requirements.
“However, where necessary, we will use enforcement action.
"I would encourage anyone with information or concerns about potentially illegal e-bike or e-scooter activity to speak to local officers.”
Legal Hi-Bike use for ages 16 and over costs £2.50 for 30 minutes, £3.50 for an hour or £8 for three hours.
Excess use beyond those timings costs another 5p per minute. For bikes not returned to dock, there is a £50 recovery fee.
After 10 hours, the bike will be considered stolen with a fee of £1500 charged to the user’s credit card.
Alternatively, there is an annual membership costing £80 and various other saver schemes.
Inverness Deputy Provost Morven Reid said: “There have been a lot of complaints about joyriding on e-bikes and I’ve spoken to the HITRANS team and to police.
“In fairness, I don’t think it is just the HITRANS bikes, with e-bikes growing in prevalence generally.
“HITRANS are looking to have new baskets manufactured and fitted because, often, what is happening is someone will cycle with their mate on the front.
“The safety issue is massive. You understand youngsters wanting to have a bit of fun, but if they are careering down Academy Street recklessly at speed it is a disaster waiting to happen.”
Ranald Robertson, partnership director at HITRANS, said: “We are really disappointed by the significant increase in misuse and vandalism of the Hi-Bike scheme in Inverness as this risks undermining the whole scheme.
“If the issue of vandalism could be addressed, we can focus on building on the real success we have seen, as Hi-Bikes have proven themselves to be very popular and a really excellent addition to travel choices available in Inverness and Fort William.
“It is disappointing that a small minority of people are misusing the system.”
