Residents Raise Alarm Over High-Speed E-Bikes In West Sussex

Residents Raise Alarm Over High-Speed E-Bikes in West Sussex

Residents in West Sussex have raised concerns about electric bike riders travelling at high speeds through residential streets and pedestrian footpaths, with police warning that some bikes can reach speeds of more than 40mph. People living in affected communities said they had witnessed riders travelling rapidly through areas shared with pedestrians, raising concerns about the safety of elderly residents and other vulnerable road users. One resident described seeing “little old ladies” having to run to get out of the way of fast-moving bikes. Police said some of the electric bikes being used are capable of exceeding 40mph, significantly faster than the legal limits that apply to compliant electric-assisted bicycles in the UK. Officers have warned that modified or illegally operated e-bikes can pose a serious danger when ridden at high speeds on pavements, footpaths and other areas where pedestrians are present. Residents have called for stronger enforcement and greater action against riders who use illegal or dangerously modified bikes. The concerns come amid wider scrutiny of e-bikes and other forms of powered two-wheel transport across the UK, as their popularity increases and authorities attempt to distinguish legal electric bicycles from vehicles that fall outside the rules. Police have urged members of the public to report dangerous riding and have warned riders that illegally modified bikes can be seize,