Police warn of dangerous e-bike stunts on Route 31 near I-81

Route 31 near the Interstate 81 interchange has turned into a dangerous evening rush-hour flash point, where police say teenagers on e-bikes and dirt bikes have been weaving between cars and performing stunts in active traffic. The risk is not confined to the riders themselves. It lands directly in the middle of one of Onondaga County’s busiest commuter corridors, where a split-second mistake can force drivers into sudden braking or a crash.

Cicero police said a video from the area showed teens on dirt bikes putting on stunts in traffic, and Sgt. James Snell said the behavior matched the worst officers have seen and is getting worse year to year. He also said modified e-bikes capable of topping 40 mph are part of the broader problem. That pushes the issue beyond a nuisance and into a fast-moving traffic safety hazard that is spreading from the city to the suburbs.

Police say enforcement is already increasing. Some illegally operated bikes are being impounded, and officers are looking at a mix of education and fines as complaints keep coming in from Onondaga County and nearby areas. Law enforcement has also said it does not want to chase riders through traffic, a choice that reflects how quickly an enforcement encounter on Route 31 could endanger commuters, officers and the riders themselves.

The New York State Police added urgency with a safety reminder issued April 30 after seeing more complaints and safety concerns in Madison County involving illegal electric dirt bikes on public roads and in residential areas. State police said riders of e-bikes and e-scooters must be 16 or older, helmets are required for riders ages 16 and 17, and e-scooters are limited to roads with posted speed limits of 30 mph or less. Off-road electric motorcycles are not legal on public roads, sidewalks, bike paths or parks unless they are fully registered, insured and street legal.

The New York State Department of Motor Vehicles says legal electric-assist bikes must have operable pedals and motors under 750 watts, with Class 1 and Class 2 e-bikes capped at 20 mph. The agency also says municipalities can further regulate where and when e-bikes and e-scooters operate, and that sidewalks are off-limits unless local law allows them. Police have warned parents and guardians to pay attention to what minors are riding and where, because repeated unsafe behavior can lead to enforcement action, including possible child-endangerment charges. The Onondaga County Traffic Safety Advisory Board, which works to coordinate traffic safety education and enforcement, is now part of the effort to get ahead of a problem that is no longer confined to a few reckless rides.