2 weeks Ago
The course was designed to address concerns about the rise of illegal, unchipped bikes in the UK. These bikes can often exceed the legal speed limit of 15.5mph, reaching speeds of more than 30mph, and pose a fire risk due to their cheap, imported batteries.
The officers visited City of Oxford College and University Centre’s technology campus in Blackbird Leys from March 17 to 21 for the specialist training course delivered by Activate Cycle Academy. Matthew Grant, head of sales at Activate Cycle Academy, said: "Recent news stories have highlighted the many issues surrounding the use of illegally modified e-motorbikes for crimes such as robbery and mobile phone snatching around the streets of our major towns and cities. "It’s been a pleasure to work with the Metropolitan Police to deliver this training, to help educate them on the many differences between illegal e-motorbikes and regular electrically assisted pedal cycle compliant e-bikes and to enable them to safely tackle the rising number of these modified bikes being ridden around London.
" The officers received training to quickly identify non-compliant e-bikes and safely handle and store these illegal vehicles. They were given basic cycle maintenance training, along with in-depth training about e-bike motors, their batteries, and the rules of riding an electric bike. This included the difference between a compliant and non-compliant electrically assisted pedal cycle.
Health and safety was also a key component of the training, with officers learning the correct way to identify and examine e-motorcycles to help prevent personal injury, and how to safely store confiscated bikes to mitigate potential battery fire risk. Sgt Mike Daly from the Metropolitan Police's cycle safety team said: "This course has provided detailed knowledge and practical experience of legal electrically assisted pedal cycles, as well as those made illegal by adaptations. "The training will help police safely identify and examine illegal e-bikes so that more of them can be removed from the streets of London, which should in turn help reduce associated crimes such as phone theft, improve road safety, and assist in the investigation of serious and fatal collisions.
" The course delivered both Cytech Technical One and the Technical E-bike Certification, meeting all health and safety and employer liability insurance requirements. It is based on the cycle maintenance courses created by Cytech, an internationally recognised training accreditation scheme for cycle technicians. As well as City of Oxford College and University Centre, Activate Learning also includes Banbury and Bicester College.
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