Community Safety Briefing re off road electric bikes

Community Safety Briefing re off road electric bikes

Due to the numerous complaints re the dangerous use of electric pit bikes / bikes please see below so everyone is aware of the law. An elderly couple and a young child narrowly missed being mowed down by two lads on a off road electric pit bike on Friday 24th April at Burntwood Park Elder Lane. If anyone has any information to the identity of these two males please contact Staffordshire Police on 101 or online quoting incident log SP-20260424-0507

Staffordshire Police

Community Safety Briefing

Off‑Road Electric Pit Bikes – What You Need to Know

What are electric pit bikes?

Electric pit bikes (sometimes called electric dirt bikes, scramblers, mini‑motos, Sur‑Rons or Talarias) are motorcycles designed for off‑road use.

Even though they are electric, they are classed in law as motor vehicles, not bicycles. This is because they:

Do not have pedals

Exceed 250 watts of power

Can travel faster than 15.5mph

As a result, they are governed by the same laws as petrol motorbikes.

Where can electric pit bikes be used legally?

✅ Legal use

Electric pit bikes may only be used:

On private land

With clear permission from the landowner

Where the land is not accessible to the public

This includes private farms, fields, or organised off‑road tracks.

❌ Illegal use

It is against the law to ride electric pit bikes in public places, including:

Roads

Pavements and footpaths

Parks and playgrounds

Public green spaces

Housing estates

Cycle paths, bridleways and footpaths

This applies regardless of age, whether the bike is electric, or whether the area appears quiet.

Why Staffordshire Police take this seriously

Illegal use of off‑road bikes can:

Endanger pedestrians, cyclists and children

Cause fear and intimidation within neighbourhoods

Damage parks and green spaces

Lead to serious injuries or fatalities

Result in financial loss for families when bikes are seized

Can electric pit bikes be used on roads?

Only if the bike is made fully road‑legal, which requires:

DVLA registration and number plate

Insurance and vehicle tax

Type approval

Road‑legal lighting, mirrors and safety equipment

A correctly licensed rider wearing an approved helmet

⚠️ Most electric pit bikes sold are not road‑legal and cannot be lawfully used on roads or pavements.

Police powers

Staffordshire Police have clear powers to deal with illegal or antisocial riding, including:

Stopping riders

Seizing electric pit bikes

Issuing penalties or prosecuting offences

Under current powers, bikes used antisocially:

Do not need a prior warning to be seized

May be destroyed or disposed of quickly

May not be returned, resulting in permanent loss

Parents and guardians – important information

Children do not have a legal right to ride electric pit bikes in public places

Parents or guardians may face financial consequences if a bike is seized

Repeated incidents may result in further enforcement action

Key message from Staffordshire Police

Electric pit bikes are not toys and are not legal for use in public spaces.
They are only lawful on private land with permission.

Our priority is community safety, protecting residents, and preventing serious harm.

Contact your local Neighbourhood Policing Team

If you have concerns, wish to report ongoing issues, or need further advice, please contact Staffordshire Police via:

101 (non‑emergency)

Online reporting via the Staffordshire Police website

Your local PCSO or neighbourhood officer

Reply to this message

Message Sent By
Tracy Horton
(Staffordshire Police, PCSO, Lichfield)