Questions over minimum age for driving motorbikes

Last week’s accident on a motocross track in the village of Makouda near Paphos, which left a 14-year-old seriously injured, has raised fresh concerns regarding the minimum age required to ride motorbikes in Cyprus.

The boy, who fell from his vehicle after colliding with another man who was inadvertently walking on the track, has suffered a spinal fracture and is now being treated at the Nicosia general hospital. 

The minimum age required to ride a motorcycle on a dedicated track is set at just seven years of age, as confirmed by Marios Agathocleous, former head of the Cypriot Motorbikes Federation. 

“From the age of seven until 17, people can only ride motorbikes with a combustion cylinder capacity of up to 50 cubic centimetres and exclusively on private tracks and confined spaces,” he told the Sunday Mail. 

“They are not allowed to drive on public roads whatsoever.” 

The capacity of the combustion cylinder is an integral part of the engine. Its main role is to supply the power to the driver. The higher the capacity, the more powerful the motorcycle. 

Despite not being allowed to circulate on roads, however, children from the age of seven are also allowed to take part in official competitions that fall under the umbrella of the federation. 

“The difference is that, when they are competing in an official race, an ambulance is always required to be on stand-by at the track. 

“This is not the case for when they are riding on their own account, when they are effectively training, like it was the case for the 14-year-old who got injured,” Agathocleous said. 

While police are still investigating the accident, there have been growing demands for the age limit necessary to ride motorbikes to be raised. 

A road safety advisor to the government told the Sunday Mail that, despite the fact that children from the age of seven are allowed on certain motorbikes, certain safety conditions, even on private dirt tracks, need to be observed. 

“Judging from the video of the accident, the track did not have adequate safety measures,” he told the Sunday Mail. 

“There is an electricity pole in the middle of the track, which is also not clearly outlined and, on top of that, the track does not feature safety protections on its edges, like sandbags or tyres.” 

He also added that, according to the existing measures in place to curb the spread of coronavirus, the young biker was not even supposed to be there. 

“Only professional drivers are allowed to train at the moment, he should not have been on the track. 

Nevertheless, some parents, despite being aware about the dangers of allowing their children to ride motorcycles, are defending the minimum age limit. 

“My 13-year-old son rides go-karts and motorcycles. He also competes in official races,” Louisa Demetriou told the Sunday Mail. 

“Motors have been his passion since he was around five, a passion that has developed over the years. 

“I cannot say I am completely unconcerned when he races or when he practises. However, I know that his instructors have been teaching him about safety since he first got into a go-kart or on a motorbike.” 

She said most professional motorsport drivers start on go-karts or mini-bikes when they are small.

“Knowing that my son is not allowed to ride on public roads until he is 17 gives me more peace of mind, even though I am still fully aware of the dangers he could encounter.”