As part of researching this topic, I came across a Facebook post, dated February 19, 2021, by one Christopher Luxon.
He says, “This is not cool at all. The illegal use of dirt bikes being ridden at excessive speeds in our neighbourhood is sadly becoming a regular occurrence.
“Hooning around on the fields and tracks where people, including children and the elderly, are out walking, exercising or playing is a major and obvious safety hazard.
“Globally, this “Bikelife” phenomenon, which brings bikers together to ride, perform tricks and share videos on social media, is a real menace and difficult to shut down, because the bikes and riders are often not identifiable.
“I’ve raised this with the police and will continue talking with them, but they are very keen that if you see these groups, you photograph and report them ASAP.”
That post was after our Prime Minister had just been elected as an MP, and before his maiden speech. We hope that sentiment expressed there is still current, while our PM has bigger fish to fry today at Waitangi.
The issues so far as the police are concerned, are that, these riders are not wearing helmets or robust safety clothing, and wearing bandanas across their face to avoid identification.
The bikes are often unregistered nor warranted, and some are in such poor condition to be not roadworthy.
They have little regard for public safety, whether on or off the road.
Police ask people to forward photos or videos, dashcam or CCTV footage to their 105 website. Police have the power to confiscate bikes and lock up riders, once they can be identified.
So, why are dirt bikes so hated by ordinary people enjoying their own outdoors. Here, I defer to an anonymous post on Quora, which explains:
- Noise and disturbance – two and loud four-stroke engines, produce high decibel bursts which carry across neighbourhoods, and repeated short bursts create huge annoyance.
- Safety concerns and visible risk-taking using public roads and pedestrian zones, is creating danger for legal users.
- Illegal or inconsiderate behaviour by a minority, who indiscriminately ride across public areas, with failure to control speed, performing stunts or intimidating others, generate broad condemnation, even if most riders behave responsibly.
- Environmental and property damage – off-trail riding erodes soil, damages vegetation and harms wildlife habitats, which conflict with local conservation goals.
- Cultural and social friction – dirt bike subculture with reckless riding, is alien to most people seeking quiet enjoyment.
- Enforcement and governance failure – a feeling of helplessness and frustration at the inability of officialdom to be able to control illegal riding.
The answer, it seems, is in the space of designated riding areas, noise controls, enforcement of illegal use and rider education. There is the need to reduce conflict by separating incompatible users, and penalising the small minority that cause most harm.
However, even in controlled motocross situations, there are still some trends which cause concern.
These are such that Auckland Coroner Ian Telford is expecting to hold a joint inquest into the deaths of four young people in motocross accidents in the past two years.
Two of these are 10 and 12 years old respectively, with the Coroner wanting to seek answers and make recommendations.
A study by Monash University in 2016 recommended, “That a review of physical, perceptual and cognitive skills required for off-road motorcycling, should be undertaken and compared to paediatric developmental stages of young people, to determine if there is an appropriate age for children to commence off-road motorcycling.”
The death of a child in front of your eyes while doing a sport they love must be a parent’s ultimate nightmare. There are questions to be answered, and dirt bike riders overall need to get their act together.
