Hastings police warn of terrifying trend on peninsula in wake of death of e-scooter rider
Complaints about illegal riding of electric scooters, skateboards and bikes are soaring on the Mornington Peninsula.
South East
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Children are riding electric scooters, bikes and skateboards at speeds of up to 70 km/h on Mornington Peninsula roads.
Local police say complaints about the dangerous trend have soared and fear it will lead to another death.
A 20 year old e-scooter rider was killed after being hit by a car while crossing the Princes Highway in Narre Warren on Thursday, February 10.
Just two days after the death Hastings police impounded two e-bikes in separate incidents.
It will cost the owners $1300 to retrieve each bike.
The first bike was impounded about 5.35pm on Saturday, February 12 from a Hastings property after complaints about a rider “pulling monos”.
The second was confiscated in Hastings after police on patrol spotted a male rider on an e-bike without a helmet or lights.
Acting sergeant Andrew Ross said both bikes had 350 watt engines.
It is against the law to ride an electric bike, scooter or skateboard with an engine larger than 200 watts.
Electric bikes, scooters and skateboards with motors over 200 watts that can travel faster than 10 km/h are classified as vehicles and riders must be licensed.
“These bikes and scooters and even skateboards we’re seeing are too powerful,” Sgt Ross said.
“They can reach speeds of up to 70 km/h and the riders are just kids.”
Sgt Ross said motorists were becoming frustrated with illegal riding on the roads.
“There has been an increase in complaints and our members have seen more illegal e-scooters, skateboards and even hover style skateboards while patrolling.”
The danger motorists can pose to e-scooter riders was higlighted recently in a freak road rage incident involving a car and four riders in St Kilda.
Glen Waverley’s Asad Syed and Doncaster’s Richard Fatileh were out with two other friends using the e-Scooters on St Kilda Rd when a car swerved into the bike lane.
The car came within metres of striking the riders, who dumped the e-Scooters and then run after the driver to try and chase them down.
