Photo: Emma Friedman/WBZ NewsRadio
HANOVER, Mass. (WBZ NewsRadio) — The Hanover Police Department has been cracking down on reckless use of e-bikes throughout the town.
Hanover Police Chief Timothy Kane has expressed his frustration in this rampant rise of the vehicles, as he says many kids have not been following traffic safety.
“In the last few months, we’ve noticed an explosion of youths using e-bikes here around town, really in every community, but as it relates to the town of Hanover is significant,” Chief Kane said. “A lot of times, we’re observing these youngsters traveling in the wrong direction, cutting off traffic, not yielding.”
He says his fear and frustration come from these young kids with little to no understanding of road safety, putting themselves and others in danger.
“Twelve years old, ten years old, they’ve obviously had no training,” Chief Kane said “Some parents don’t realize that there’s a significant danger that goes along with their youngsters riding these bikes.”
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On July 2, Kane put out a public safety message on social media regarding this rampant, unsafe use of the electric bikes.
Within the message, the chief also shared a zero-tolerance approach, saying that those caught riding recklessly could be hit with an Operating to Endanger (OTE) citation. Riders under 18 who receive this citation will also get their e-bike impounded.
“We want to make sure that we do everything we can so that this community can avoid a tragedy,” he said.
Kane said that this approach has been going very well, as dangerous bike riding has decreased.
“Since we put out this notice, we’ve actually seen a little bit of a decrease, we haven’t generated as many complaints,” he said. “A lot of parents have reached out to us, thanking us for taking that approach, I think the message has gotten out a little bit.”
He also said that they haven’t had to act on their approach at all yet, meaning no citations and no impounding bikes.
WBZ NewsRadio’s Emma Friedman (@EmmaFriedmanWBZ) reports.