Large group of motorcyclists seen zooming down US 50 in coordinated ride. Is it illegal?

River Road commuters over the weekend shared the roadway with a motorcycle motorcade.

Videos provided to The Enquirer show a large group of motorcyclists entered U.S. 50 near Elberon Avenue in East Price Hill and hurtled toward Downtown on Friday and Saturday. West Siders complained in social media comments of noise disturbances and reckless driving.

Is it illegal? It depends on what happens during the ride, according to Cincinnati police spokesman Lt. Jonathan Cunningham.

He said police won't engage with motorcyclists if they're going from point A to point B. They will only engage if something criminal is going on. That might be something like popping wheelies, which can be seen in the videos.

In that case, a motorcyclist could risk being cited for reckless operation or even have their vehicle impounded.

So-called street takeovers have made the news in recent years in Cincinnati and across the country. Cars or other vehicles will either physically block off the street or cause an obstruction in another way by doing doughnuts or other reckless driving techniques, such as a biker doing wheelies.

In 2020, residents spoke out about similar incidents of loud and reckless motorcycle and ATV behavior throughout the city. Drivers of two quad vehicles were apprehended by the University of Cincinnati that year. Another destructive ATV incident at Smale Park drew attention from residents and was captured in a viral video.

Cincinnati police can't chase down drivers if they are only suspected of traffic violations. Since 2022, the department has a policy to limit vehicle chases to violent felony offenders . Police technology such as surveillance cameras and license plate readers make tracking down vehicles possible without chasing them. Police also use tactics like roadblocks to further discourage reckless events.

Police encourage organizers of biker meet-ups to hold their attendees accountable for driving safely in a coordinated ride. Even one person falling off a motorcycle could create a chain reaction and be catastrophic, Cunningham said, leading to injury to oneself and others in surrounding vehicles.

"It’s our expectation that you should operate motor vehicle safely to yourself and others," he said. "We ask they keep safety paramount, and discourage any of their attendees from doing wheelies and such."

Brandyn Ward, CEO of Bikelyfe Xclusive , a clothing brand representing motorcyclists and bicyclists, often organizes motorcyclist ride-outs like this one. He said they are typically organized in advance and news of the event spreads through word-of-mouth and on social media, often leading to large turnouts.

Police have been called to Ward's motorcycle events in the past, he said. When they pull up and see there's nothing criminal going on, he said, they go about their way. Once, officers disbanded a motorcycle meet-up in Springdale early due to a nighttime noise ordinance in effect at 10 p.m.

"It’s a hobby. We just like to ride and have fun," Ward said. "I don’t think it’s like, 'let’s cause panic to the neighborhood and communities.' It's like, 'we got a big bike event together this weekend, so let's come together and support.' "

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Large group of motorcyclists seen zooming down US 50 in coordinated ride. Is it illegal?