Residents along Cleveland's Denison Avenue business corridor are fed-up with a growing number of incidents involving illegal ATV's and dirt bikes in their neighborhood.
An ATV crash at W. 67 and Denison on May 22, which left the rider in critical condition, has residents and business owners wondering what can be done to slowdown the growing problem.
Marilyn Jones lives and shops along Denison Avenue, and said she's aware of nearly a dozen incidents involving illegal ATV's and dirt bikes since the beginning of the year.
"Oh it's horrible, you're lucky on one has been killed around here yet," said Jones.
"You're on ATV's, no helmets, and then you got a lot of people riding around here with their little kids on these things. You're going to end up killing them and yourself."
Cleveland Councilman Brian Cummins said the Cleveland Police traffic unit was giving pursuit, when the ATV rider crashed into the back of a stopped car trying to make a left off of Denison Avenue.
Cummins said, while it's not official, he believes Cleveland's traffic unit can chase these illegal vehicles with high performance BMW motorcycles.
"These illegal riders should understand that their may be pursuits against them," said Cummins.
"Not in cars, not in police cars, the traffic unit apparently has the ability to pursue."
Cummins said the City of Cleveland would rather rely on quick reports from residents via the phone or social media on where illegal riders gather.
Cummins said this will give police the opportunity to safely ticket riders and confiscate the illegal vehicles before they hit the road.
Jones said residents need to get involved, and believes reporting the potentially hazardous ATV's is better than chasing them.
"You can't chase in a police car, now you got bikes for it," said Jones.
"It's still horrible, because somebody is going to lose their life."
