By VDC staff
A young teenager dressed entirely in black reportedly raced through Burlington streets the night of August 18 on a high-powered electric motorcycle without lights, reflectors or a helmet, adding another incident to growing concerns over e-bikes, e-motos and other motorized devices on city streets.
A person claiming to be a witness posted on Reddit that the rider appeared to be about 14 or 15 years old and was operating what appeared to be an e-moto — an electric motorcycle without pedals — at speeds well above 30 MPH.
The witness said the youth was difficult for motorists to see because the bike had no visible lights or reflectors and the rider was dressed in black. He allegedly ran red lights and stop signs while traveling at high speed.
At one point, the rider stopped briefly and a man politely warned him that he needed lights because motorists could not see him, according to the witness.
“That’s not my problem!” the youth reportedly responded before speeding away.
The witness estimated that the rider at times reached about 40 MPH and said a woman screamed when he passed close to her at high speed.
“He was going really fast and being pretty reckless on that thing,” the witness said. “These things are becoming a menace.”
The account comes amid continuing concerns about street safety and disorder in Burlington, where Vermont Daily Chronicle has recently reported a series of violent and dangerous incidents involving young people, bicycles, scooters and other vehicles.
On Aug. 10, a woman riding an electric scooter was seriously injured in a collision with a bus at North Street and Elmwood Avenue.
And in July, 16-year-old Shiloh Skalka of Burlington died after a collision involving his bicycle and a vehicle on Pine Street. Police later cited the vehicle’s 79-year-old driver, Douglas Knapp, on a charge of negligent operation with death resulting.
Eight days ago, juvenile e-bike riders assaulted an adult bike rider on the city bike path and slashed his tires.
The latest report also highlights a growing distinction that can be lost in debates over “e-bikes.” Some increasingly powerful electric two-wheelers have no functional pedals and can travel at speeds comparable to motorcycles, raising questions about whether they belong on streets and paths under rules designed for conventional bicycles and lower-powered electric bikes.
The witness, who identified himself as a parent, said he would not allow his own child to operate such a vehicle in that manner, particularly after dark.