NINE quad and off-road bikers were caught on camera “playing with people’s lives” by bursting through a red light in a procession at a busy junction in Bradford.

The shocking video, which was captured on a motorist’s dash-cam, prompted one local councillor to describe these sort of bikers - spotted regularly on the district’s roads - as a “menace and a risk to life” who were “sticking two fingers up at the community”.

A driver who witnessed the incident said a woman who had started to cross the road when the bikes roared through was forced to hurry back to the pavement.

The incident happened on Sticker Lane, where it meets Fenby Avenue, in Cutler Heights - and one of the bikers can be seen doing a wheelie as they pass through the junction.

The driver who saw the drama said: “The lady was already crossing when the bikes and quads came flying through the lights. She had to dash back to the kerb and I could see she was clearly shaken up.

“The problem of quads/bikes is a major issue and if it continues there will undoubtedly be major incidents or deaths.”

The incident happened at about 3.15pm on Tuesday July 19.

Asian Image:

A still image taken from the video

Councillor David Ward (Lib Dem, Bolton and Undercliffe) believes he saw the same group of riders a short time later at Five Lane Ends, where, he claimed, one drove straight over the middle of the roundabout.

“They are a menace and a risk to life,” said Cllr Ward. “It is absolutely crazy. It is almost an epidemic in Bradford.”

He added: “It is outrageous, irresponsible and arrogant. It is as if they are saying the normal rules do not apply to them. It is idiotic behaviour.

“It is almost an attack on the community - it is sticking two fingers up at the community.”

Cllr Hassan Khan (Lab, Bowling and Barkerend) said: “The people on these bikes need to be careful and think about children and elderly people on the streets. They need to stop doing illegal stuff like this because they might cause an accident.

“I know they are young and trying to look good, but they should not be playing with people’s lives in this way.”

Asian Image: Cllr Hassan Khan at the junction of Sticker Lane and Fenby Avenue (above), scene of the video (below)

Cllr Hassan Khan at the junction of Sticker Lane and Fenby Avenue (above), scene of the video 

Cllr Khan added: “Quad and off-road bikes are a big problem around Bowling and Barkerend, especially in the summer. It is getting worse day by day.

“It has been a problem for a long time. There are young children around - there are two schools on Fenby Avenue - and it could end up in a serious accident. We could lose a child’s life.”

A spokesperson for road safety charity Brake said: “The young men in this video are putting themselves and other road users in danger through their selfish actions. Most quad bikes are illegal – for good reason – to drive on the road, and running the red light could have caused a serious crash.

“Roads police officers do a vital job, enforcing important safety laws and deterring risky, law-breaking drivers. We urge the government to make roads policing a national priority, putting more officers on the streets to stop dangerous and illegal drivers, and prevent needless deaths and injuries.”

Police have seized 37 bikes in the last four months. They seized 61 in the same period last year.

Superintendent Damien Miller, of Bradford District Police, said: “The Bradford District ASB Bike Team remains committed to tackling nuisance riders and has removed almost 500 vehicles from the district’s roads since it was launched just over two years ago.

“We are fully aware of the problems they can cause and are grateful to the people of Bradford for supporting our ongoing work.

“We continue to ask people to give us any information they have about these vehicles, who might be riding them, and where they might be stored.

“Those found to be using vehicles to cause a nuisance or riding them in a dangerous manner can expect to have them seized. Repeat offenders will face further action, which could lead to anti-social behaviour orders or custodial sentences. People keeping these vehicles on their premises could also face enforcement action.”

Nuisance bikes can be reported to bradforddistrictasbbiketeam@westyorkshire.pnn.police.uk or 01274 373968.