Safety concerns persist among residents as mini bikes continue to appear on St. Joseph roads

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (KQTV) -- Mini bikes are a familiar sight for drivers, residents and visitors in St. Joseph.

St. Joseph Police Department Captain Patrick Zeamer said the city saw a noticeable increase in mini bikes on the roads a few years ago. 

“Lot of the farm stores and home stores were selling under street-legal vehicles, which they are not, so we did see a lot of that for a while,” Zeamer said.  

While the trend has slowed and fewer bikes are hitting the road, Zeamer said officers still spot mini bikes on city streets from time to time. 

Zeamer said mini bikes have been a concern for years, and they remain one today because they are not street legal.  

“People don’t have insurance on them. There are people driving them who don’t have driving licenses all the time,” he added.  

Zeamer pointed out that minibikes or motorcycles are not allowed on city streets, as the city only allows 49cc's or less.  

A 49cc motorcycle, which is often a pocket bike, dirt bike or moped with two- to four-stroke engine options.

However, drivers are still required to have a valid driving license and must be 16 years old or more in order to drive them.  

“It would be illegal, period. They can be driven on private property, ATV park and stuff like that which authorize them,” Zeamer said.  

Even then, riders must be at least 16 years old and have a valid driver's license.  

Because mini bikes are not legal to operate on city streets, Zeamer said riders are not required to carry insurance for them. 

Sharon Weiser, who lives near North 29th Street, said she hasn't seen many mini bikes recently, but she remembers noticing one about six weeks ago. 

“There was somebody riding a mini bike up and down the street. I could hear the noise because they were very fast and I just worry about other people on the street,” Weiser said.  

She said her message to people who ride mini bikes is to wear a helmet, ride safely and help everyone in the neighborhood feel safe.  

Barbara Poage, who lives near Ashland Avenue, said she has recently noticed an increase in mini bike and e-bike activity in the area. 

She said the riders stand out because they are often traveling at high speeds.  

“I haven’t noticed it a lot in the past that much, so it has not been that significant until recently,” she added.  

Poage said her biggest concern is when riders exceed the posted speed limit and create more noise than passing vehicles. 

She said Ashland Avenue may not be the most dangerous location because it is a busy thoroughfare, but other parts of town with frequent stop signs and intersections could present greater safety risks.  

“Having worked in the medical field, I see a lot of times no helmets and I have seen the results of head injuries and it just hurts my heart to see people riding bikes with no helmets on,” Poage said.  

Sandra Maguire, another Ashland Avenue resident, said the issue has been ongoing in her neighborhood for about a year. 

She said motorcycles and mini bikes are often out during the early evening and continue into the night, creating frequent noise disruptions. 

“It's not all motorcycles. There are a bunch of them that are okay, but they don’t wear helmets,” Maguire said.  

She said she has talked with her son, who lives three houses away, and he agrees the noise has become a problem. 

Maguire said the sound is less noticeable when they are in the backyard, but when they do hear it, it is difficult to ignore.  

“Please be smart, wear a helmet and cut the tricks out. If you want to drive; please drive responsibly,” she added.  

For drivers who encounter mini bikes or any other vehicles on the road, the St. Joseph Police Department encourages everyone to practice defensive driving, stay alert and minimize distractions.