| As much as there is an almost complete unity in | | | | children. The air was also cleared over the issue of |
| encouraging the switch to biking by policymakers and | | | | purchasing insurance cover for mini bikes. While many |
| other stakeholders, the issue of nuisance biking is one | | | | assumed erroneously that they didn't need an |
| menace causing so much worry. | | | | insurance policy, they were reminded that bike |
| Nuisance biking | | | | insurance was a requirement as long as the vehicle |
| In the last several months the police in different | | | | was motor-propelled and would be used on public |
| parts of Britain have been locked in a continuous | | | | roads. To sink the message as deeply as possible |
| battle with this category of bikers. Nuisance biking is | | | | retailers were also urged to remind customers to get |
| basically the riding of motorbikes, particularly off-road | | | | the cover and other required documentation for |
| bikes like mopeds, quads or mini motos in | | | | bikes. |
| unauthorised places and provoking both health and | | | | Fresh campaign |
| security concerns. | | | | Based on the extent this campaign has gone to, one |
| Nuisance bikers, residents usually complain, disturb the | | | | would think that by now most people would have |
| peace and increasingly expose themselves and others | | | | been sufficiently enlightened about the use of mini or |
| to the risk of accidents. Sometimes they are also | | | | off-road bikes in order to avoid a confrontation with |
| found to be carrying a passenger on an off-road bike | | | | the law. But the situation is still far from this. |
| meant for one. | | | | Almost every time a young bike rider is caught at |
| But the biggest issue is that they ride in places meant | | | | the wrong place on a mini bike possibly doing the |
| for public use, such as parks or pavements, where | | | | wrong thing, they are also found to be in possession |
| innocent pedestrians could be crashed into. In addition | | | | of none of the required documents. This, therefore, |
| to the fact that such motorbikes should be ridden | | | | suggests that the battle is far from won and more |
| only on a private property with the permission of the | | | | needs to be done. |
| property owner, when young people riding this type | | | | In Coventry, which is one of the worst hit places, |
| of motorbike get on the road they hardly have any | | | | there is a renewed effort to tackle the problem. |
| of the required documents to allow them on the | | | | Unlike previous campaigns, barriers are being raised to |
| road. Bike insurance is neglected, just as licence is not | | | | prevent youths riding bikes or quads from accessing |
| taken seriously despite the fact that failure to have | | | | restricted areas like pathways and roads. |
| them could get the biker into trouble with the law. | | | | The step taken by the council in this regard will no |
| Christmas crackdown | | | | doubt reduce the seriousness of the problem, |
| In several places across the country the police were | | | | although it does not solve it. It is, however, worthy |
| called to move in to check the menace of nuisance | | | | of emulation in other areas. |
| bikers last year. In some places gangs of young | | | | Irrespective of the above, a long-term solution is |
| riders were apprehended and had thier bikes | | | | required to deal with the issue. Parents or guardians, |
| confiscated. In some extreme cases such bike riders | | | | as advised by the police, need to continuously caution |
| were charged and had to appear in court for a | | | | their children or wards. They also need to ensure |
| number of offences. | | | | they purchase the right cover for bikes or extend |
| Shortly before Christmas the police cautioned parents | | | | their home insurance to cover the bikes. |
| against buying off-road bikes as presents for their | | | | |