'Fast, furious and dangerous' - a city's quad bike menace

ByCaroline Gall

West Midlands

Sitting in his Birmingham city centre apartment, one resident says he can often hear them before he sees them.

The sound of revving engines is followed by groups of quad bikes and off-road motorcycles weaving through traffic, performing wheelies and riding through some of the busiest streets in the city.

"It's only a matter of time until something serious happens," he said.

Videos shared on social media over recent months have captured groups of riders travelling through areas including Hurst Street, Bristol Road and Corporation Street, often with faces covered and no visible number plates.

One video filmed by the resident showed a pedestrian narrowly avoiding being struck as a group rode through the city centre.

"I've watched them and they go through red lights, they just totally ignore the red lights," he said.

"People still cross when the pedestrian lights are green, but they don't even slow down to check.

"They're zigzagging in the middle of cars. No number-plates. It's bad because nobody sees any action happening and it's only a matter of time until something serious happens."

The resident, who did not want to reveal their name, said the groups were not a daily occurrence but had become a familiar sight over the past year.

"The one I filmed the other day was at six o'clock and they were coming back around at nine," he said.

"It goes on for hours by the look of it."

Birmingham-based content creator GB Street Stories has also encountered and filmed riders in the city.

"It might just be a hobby or for fun for them, but they have absolutely no right to put other people's lives at risk or damage public property," he said.

"I've personally witnessed them breaking traffic laws, driving down the wrong side of the road and speeding straight through stop signs at tram tracks without pausing even for a second.

"Riding in this manner is extremely dangerous and puts both their own lives and the safety of everyone else in serious jeopardy."

Residents say the issue is not solely about road safety.

The noise created by the bikes is also a source of frustration, particularly in busy pedestrian areas.

"For people in and around the city, not just residents but visitors too, if you've got young children walking around, you don't want to hear all that," the resident said.

"It's fast, furious and dangerous."

The riders have also been seen by street wardens working across Birmingham city centre.

A spokesperson for Colmore and Southside Business Improvement Districts said wardens had, on occasion, witnessed groups of riders while carrying out patrols and had shared information with relevant agencies where appropriate.

The organisation said wardens did not have powers to stop or detain individuals, but continued to work alongside partners including West Midlands Police and Birmingham City Council.

The issue is not unique to Birmingham.

Cleveland Police has used drones in efforts to tackle off-road bikes, while Metropolitan Police officers have deployed electric bikes to pursue riders through areas difficult to access with patrol cars.

Elsewhere, new measures allowing police to order people to remove face coverings have been introduced in Nottingham and are due to be introduced in Stafford, as authorities look at different ways of tackling anti-social behaviour.

West Midlands Police said it was aware of the issues in Birmingham city centre.

"We are aware of concerns around the use of e-scooters and off-road bikes being ridden antisocially in the city centre," a spokesperson said.

"Officers are working to crack down on their use locally and, as a result, we are encouraging the public to report any incidents to us.

"If a rider is caught using any type of off-road motorbike or quad bike and causing a nuisance to others, they are liable to prosecution, and the vehicle will be seized."

(Source: Department for Transport), external