NYPD cracks down on motor bikes and ATVs after hundreds of riders take advantage of traffic-free streets due to coronavirus to 'terrorize' the city (21 Pics)

New York's police department has begun a crackdown on illegal street bikes and all-terrain vehicles which have been taking advantage of quiet streets due to the coronavirus lockdown and terrorizing neighborhoods in Brooklyn and Manhattan throughout April.

Video has been shot by residents living along the route of the riders which clearly shows many of them traveling on the sidewalk in complete disregard for the safety of pedestrians. 

Incredibly, nobody has been hurt thanks to a city lockdown requiring people to stay at home except for essential journeys.  

Over the weekend, the NYPD made a concerted effort to track down some of the owners and riders of the bikes and managed to seize 20 of the bikes and ATVs. 

NYPD Assistant Chief Jeffrey Maddrey, CO of Brooklyn North, tweets: On your streets, improving your quality of life. Illegal bikes are not only a nuisance, they are dangerous. Our officers heard your pleas for help and we responded. @NYPDChiefPatrol

Cops found 20 ATVs, go-carts, dirt bikes and scooters riding on New York City streets on Saturday, according to the NYPD

Several of the bikers were seen traveling along the side walk as the travelled through Manhattan streets  

New York City streets may be largely emptied of cars because of the coronavirus pandemic, but there seems to be no shortage of dangerous off-roaders

Cops wrote out a total of 25 summonses across the city and made two arrested, one for criminal possession of a firearm and another for reckless endangerment. 

'It was a beautiful day today in NYC, but NOT to terrorize the streets on an illegal dirt bike or quad,' NYPD's Chief of Patrol Fausto Pichardo wrote online.

'Throughout the day, NY's Finest were safely removing these menaces,' Pichardo wrote.

In Brooklyn North precinct police confiscated nine dirt bikes, two ATVs, two scooters and one motorcycle reported the NYPD.

This April 25, 2020 tweet from the NYPD's 19th Precinct reads: NOT. ON. OUR. STREETS.More illegally and recklessly operated ATVs & dirt bikes were taken off the streets across NYC-including here on the Upper East Side. To be continued...

The ATVs, scooters, dirt bikes and even a few go-carts found in Manhattan resulted in 25 summonses and two arrests, including one rider who was found with a gun

This video by David Grover shows a stream of dirt bikes and ATVs rolling down the street and across sidewalks in Manhattan, with caption: 'Look how bad it has been' replying to the NYPD

Most of the banned vehicles were found in North Brooklyn, where there were 14 confiscations Saturday, according to the NYPD

Officers in Brooklyn took nine dirt bikes, two ATVs, two scooters and one motorcycle

The Brooklyn crackdown accounted for the majority of the tickets with 21, police said after residents complained. 

'On your streets, improving your quality of life,' Assistant Chief Jeffrey Maddrey, commanding officer of Brooklyn North, wrote on Twitter. 'Illegal bikes are not only a nuisance, they are dangerous. Our officers heard your pleas for help and we responded.'

The crackdown continued in Manhattan with three people given tickets for riding on a pair of go-carts which were confiscated by cops, while an ATV was also impounded.

NYPD Chief of Patrol Fausto Pichardo tweets on April 25, 2020: It was a beautiful day today in NYC, but NOT to terrorize the streets on an illegal dirt bike or quad. Throughout the day, NY's Finest were safely removing these menaces. Not only is the reckless riding of these a danger, one rider was in possession of an illegal gun

Officers found a handgun along with some alcohol and some weed in one rider's bag

Police posed with their newly confiscated haul of illegal street bikes in Brooklyn 

The crackdown comes as New York City's streets remain largely clear of traffic as New Yorkers stay home during the coronavirus pandemic

This ATV was confiscated near a park in northern Brooklyn. The average cost of a new ATV is just under $10,000

Police had been asked by New York City residents t do something about the growing problem

The ATVs, scooters, dirt bikes and even a few go-carts found in Manhattan resulted in 25 summonses and two arrests

The police were happy to post video of their haul of illegal bikes and ATVs online

In Long Island City, one person had their scooter seized and was given a summons while in the Bronx police impounded another pair of ATVs.

'This isn't something new this has been going on for years and happens everywhere in the city,' one police source said to the New York Post . 'It's all the trouble-makers in the neighborhood. They'll go up and down the streets like morons.' 

One rider was arrested after being found with a .357 Magnum revolver gun

Shocking footage was captured by Melissa Francis, a news anchor for Fox, who lives above the intersection where the speeding bikes passed by on the Upper East Side earlier this month

Earlier this month, up to 100 motorbikes and ATVs were caught on camera racing along the side streets of New York's Upper East Side with many of the illegal dirt bikes and quads ending up on the sidewalk.  

A couple of people were even seen trying to cross the road, while another person was leaving a shop just as the convoy was passing and they could easily have been injured.

Such sights are common in other parts of the city including Harlem and the Bronx where on summer nights such behavior is almost a nightly ritual.

The police rarely do anything about it and are relatively powerless to do anything and argue that giving chase to the bikers could make the situation even less safe. 

The NYPD encourages all citizens to call 911 and take video in an effort to identify the culprits. 

Some Twitter users had sympathy for the bikers while others believe them to by a menace

Last July, the NYPD's 19th Precinct told Patch.com that they were aware of the situation and would make arrests and confiscate their bikes at the end of their joy ride in East Harlem or the Bronx.  

Bikers race along avenues willfully disregarding any red lights that may slow their progress.  

It is rare, however, to see such activities take place on the sidewalk where such the bikers actions could easily endanger the lives of pedestrians. 

It appears as though those involved in this weekend convoy were taking advantage of the quiet city streets which have occurred as a result of the lock down and stay at home orders that are in place in New York City as a result of the coronavirus. 

Some Twitter users had sympathy for the bikers while others perceived them to be a menace.

‘Until your wife steps out of the door from taking her 85 year old mom food, holding your baby and gets his with a four wheeler. It’s all good. We have the same s*** in ATL,’ wrote one user.

‘Pretty sure ATV’s and dirt bikes are neither street legal or sidewalk legal,’ commented another.

‘What’s the problem they’re social distancing they’re not gonna catch anything right now on a motorcycle an there’s no traffic,’ argued another user.

‘Let them enjoy a ride,’ said another.