26 September 2023

Police pull plug on illegal bike riding

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ACT Policing has issued a warning reminding the community that it’s against the law to ride trail bikes and quad bikes on public parkland, including ovals and greenbelts.

Officer in Charge of Road Policing, Detective Inspector Marcus Boorman said the warning came after mobile phone footage of one such incident was submitted to police by a member of the public.

“The footage, taken at Melba Oval on Alfred Hill Drive about 12.20pm Saturday, 13 June 2020, shows a person riding a trail bike on the oval and adjacent parkland,” Detective Inspector Boorman said.

“It also appears to show a young child riding a quad bike unassisted and without a helmet,” he said.

“The people depicted in this vision might think that what they’re doing is merely harmless fun, but they’re actually breaking the law.”

Detective Inspector Boorman said a trail bike could be ridden on public roads if it was properly registered and operated by a licensed rider.

“All other riding of trail bikes and quad bikes on public land in the ACT is prohibited,” he said.

“Parents shouldn’t need to teach their kids to watch out for vehicles when they’re playing in a park or a green space, which are there to be enjoyed by the entire community, not to be turned into your own personal trail bike track,” Detective Inspector Boorman said.

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