City councilor asks police to investigate group of bikers seen in Chinatown

A City Council member contacted police after constituents raised concerns about a large group of people riding through Chinatown and the Leather District on bikes and motorized two-wheeled vehicles Tuesday. 

Councilor Ed Flynn reposted a video of the incident on Facebook. He said that he contacted Boston police and asked them to investigate. He also called on police to “enforce current traffic laws.”

At about 2:41 p.m., BPD officers assigned to the downtown area “observed a large group of individuals on bikes and motorcycles operating in the area of the Boston Commons, Beacon Street, and Charles Street,” a spokesperson said when asked about the video. 

The group was seen an hour later near Atlantic Avenue and Commercial Street, the BPD spokesperson said. As of Wednesday morning, he was unable to locate a police report about the incident. 

Flynn is one of the most outspoken public officials in the city when it comes to matters of pedestrian safety and the potential dangers posed by motorized two-wheeled vehicles like mopeds and dirt bikes. Last week, he introduced an ordinance that seeks to regulate high-speed e-bikes. 

“Neighbors and pedestrians throughout the City of Boston – including our seniors, persons with disabilities, and young families – consistently bring up the lack of enforcement on all two-wheeled vehicles operating on sidewalks, running red lights and stop signs, and going the wrong way down the street. They consistently report feeling unsafe walking on sidewalks and streets near these two-wheel devices, due to the high rates of speed and skill required,” the text of the ordinance reads. 

Last summer, more than 100 people were seen riding bicycles, dirt bikes, and motorized scooters on highways in and around Boston. The group moved through areas including the Zakim Bridge and the O’Neill Tunnel, disrupting traffic. One person was arrested.