E-bike riders causing havoc in Norwich city centre

John Noon, 62, says he saw one e-bike rider going at “about 40mph” in St Stephens Street and knock over a woman in her 60s.

He is worried that the issue will get worse as they become more popular with cyclists and wants officials to take action.

John said: "He mounted the pavement, passed the lights, and knocked over a woman.

John Noon, 62 (Image: John Noon)

"I helped pick her up. 

"The speed he was going at was terrible.

"Something bad is going to happen - it is only a matter of time.

"Most of the times I'm in the city they are out and shooting through red lights at 40mph.

"It is so dangerous and something has to be done to stop it."

E-bike and electric motorbike riders are often in the city centre (Image: Newsquest)

John believes that one way to tackle the issue is if Norwich City Council brings in restrictions to make the riders wear vests with serial numbers on them - in the same way that vehicles have registration plates.

He believes this could better help people identify and report those speeding and breaking the law on their e-bike or electric motorbike.

Green Party councillor Jamie Osborn says that the main issue is with electric motorbikes rather than people riding e-bikes.

Delivery cyclists are often spotted in the city centre (Image: Denise Bradley) He said: "Many delivery companies seem to allow electric motorbikes to be treated as bicycles, with riders speeding down pavements on these vehicles and putting people at risk.

"The vast majority of these are electric motorbikes rather than bikes due to their unrestricted speed and powerful motors.

"Delivery companies need to take responsibility for the safety of both their riders and the public by ensuring all bikes are legal and ridden responsibly.

"We need much better regulation of the way delivery companies operate, which needs action from the police as well national legislation."

Jamie Osborn is a Green Party councillor for the Mancroft ward (Image: Denise Bradley)

However, a spokeswoman for Norwich City Council explained that City Hall doesn't have the authority to bring in new laws regarding e-bike riders.

She said: "We would be supportive of regulations being considered but this is a question for central government to consider and implement, not local authorities."

READ MORE: Police referred to watchdog after crash on city street

The cyclists use a range of motorbikes, e-bikes and electric motorbikes (Image: Denise Bradley) THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN E-BIKES AND MOTORBIKES

Monica Scigliano, senior policy officer at Cycling UK, explained the difference between an e-bike and an electric motorbike.

She said: "There’s a lot of confusion when it comes to recognising and purchasing road-legal e-cycles.

"To be considered an e-cycle, you generally need to pedal it for the motor to assist and it needs to cut out at 15.5mph.

There are different rules for e-bike riders and electric motorbikes (Image: Denise Bradley) "If you buy an e-cycle and then modify it to go, say, 30mph and then get pulled over, you won’t be charged with modifying your e-cycle; you’ll be charged with riding a motorbike without insurance or a license.

"These motorbikes are not allowed in cycle lanes or mixed-use, pedestrian and cyclist, paths."

In the eyes of the law, these are motorbikes and are not allowed to be in cycle lanes or share spaces with pedestrians.

Cycling UK believes there should be more enforcement against the companies and individuals who sell unsafe, illegal and modified bikes.