The new legislation includes increasing penalties for illegal riding, prohibiting stunt riding, and avoiding chasing bikes in police cars. The city also plans to collaborate with dirt bike advocates, often referred to as the Bike Life community, to increase outreach and education about the dangers and legality of the bikes, says Cleveland Chief of Police Calvin Williams.
"So part of what we’re going to do is a public information campaign that gets that message out there, and to elicit the public’s help when these rides start and end, because people see that in the neighborhoods," Williams said.
In recent years, city residents have raised noise and public safety concerns surrounding the motorized bikes.
A split Cleveland city council in January approved a $2.3 million dollar motocross park in the Kinsman neighborhood.