Police seize 12 mopeds and e-bikes in Woolwich
A total of twelve e-bikes and mopeds have been seized by mopeds in Woolwich town centre after a joint operation with Greenwich Council.
The move follows complaints over the use of vehicles on Powis Street particularly focused around takeaways.
According to Greenwich Council seizures were for “not complying with moped, e-bike and right to work legislation”.
Councillor Calum O’Byrne Mulligan, Cabinet Member for Climate Action, Sustainability and Transport, said: “The safety of everyone on the streets of Royal Greenwich is a top priority for us – that’s why we’re helping to tackle illegal moped and e-bike riders.
“Road-legal e-bikes are a safe, efficient and sustainable way of getting around. But make no mistake – those which aren’t are dangerous for anyone who uses our borough’s roads, while shoddy batteries and poor-quality conversion kits are also fire hazards.
“With sales of illegal e-bikes, conversion kits and dodgy lithium batteries on the rise, I’d like to appeal to our residents to be responsible, know the laws and carefully research their e-bike specs before purchasing an illegal and unsafe product.”
The latest operation is part of Operation Focus which so far has seen 64 vehicle seizures and 344 hi-vis jackets distributed.
Requirements relating to e-bikes, mopeds and scooters include limits on motors and speed as well as required marking showing the manufacturer name and power output.
Licensed and unlicensed HMOs in terraced houses are becoming a serious risk, especially when they’re packed with unsafe batteries charging overnight while families sleep just a wall away. The unlicensed ones are even more dangerous, as they often lack proper fire safety measures and escape routes. It feels inevitable that nothing will change until a major tragedy forces action — and by then it will be far too late.
I agree Local resident, not to mention the lack of general maintenance of the premises on some HMO’s (overflowing with rubbish, unkept gardens), and general tone of the street when there are too many so close by!
Many landlords are converting decent family sized homes into HMO’s to squeeze as much return as possible and damn to the consequences to the neighbours and local community!
@ J Smith: I thought e-bikes are NOT street legal and are only for off road use. I wonder how many of those delivery riders actually have a provisional licence, let alone taken a CBT course, because I have seen some shocking goings on and can’t believe they have had any training.