BEND, Ore. — Bend police cited three juveniles following a large gathering of e-bike and e-motorcycle riders who reportedly took over lanes of traffic and rode recklessly through parts of the city Sunday afternoon.
At approximately 4:51 p.m. Sept. 6, Bend Police Department received multiple calls about a group of more than 30 teens who had gathered on e-motorcycles in the Mt. Bachelor Park & Ride parking lot. The group then reportedly traveled throughout Bend, including downtown, along Galveston Avenue and on other westside roads.
According to police, callers reported the riders were behaving recklessly, including performing wheelies and failing to follow traffic laws.
Officers responded to the area and attempted to conduct a traffic stop. Police said many of the riders failed to stop and fled the area. Failing to stop for police is a felony.
Officers conducted area checks and stopped several riders. Three juveniles were cited or referred to Deschutes County Juvenile Community Justice.
A 14-year-old riding an e-bike was cited and referred to Juvenile Community Justice for allegedly operating without a driver’s license.
A 15-year-old riding an e-motorcycle capable of traveling more than 50 mph was cited for failure to wear a helmet, operating a moped on a sidewalk and operating without a driver’s license. The vehicle was impounded.
A 12-year-old riding an e-motorcycle capable of reaching 34 mph was stopped while attempting to access the Bend Parkway. The juvenile was referred to Juvenile Community Justice for allegedly operating without a driver’s license.
Police also located additional e-motorcycles hidden at a residence. The homeowner requested that the vehicles be removed, and officers collected them as found property.
With the school year getting underway, Bend police reminded families to understand Oregon’s rules governing e-bikes and e-motorcycles.
Police said children under 16 are not legally permitted to ride e-bikes, and e-bikes cannot be operated on sidewalks. Officers also noted that many electric motorcycles being used on local roads are capable of traveling faster than 28 mph without pedaling.
According to police, off-road electric motorcycles that cannot be registered are not legal for use on city streets, sidewalks or trails within Bend city limits.
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