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Police crackdown on cyclists' wheeliesWheelie (licensed on Flickr under CC BY 2.0 by Carlos Felipe Pardo).JPG

Police crackdown on cyclists' wheelies

Herttford police say they'll take action on persistent offenders...
by Sarah Barth
Sat, Sep 30, 2017 07:15
44

Police in Hertford are staging a crackdown on dangerous cycling following what they say is a ‘craze’ for trying out stunts on the road.

A number of young people have been reported to the force for wheelies on the roads and over roundabouts, and other stunts.

They say warning letters could be handed out to persistent offenders.

Sergeant Michael Clark told the Hertfordshire Mercury: "There seems to be a new craze which involves carrying out stunt manoeuvres, or riding anti-socially on bikes in public places.

"This is not only dangerous to the cyclists themselves, but also puts other road users and pedestrians at risk.

"We've had many calls about this problem and as these groups of young people tend to be aged under 18, I'd like parents to be aware of this issue so that they can speak to their children about the importance of road safety.

"If this behaviour continues, it won't be long before someone is injured or worse.

"My officers will be reporting those that commit road traffic offences as well as implementing Operation Panther for those that continue to ride their bikes in an anti-social manner.

"This will involve issuing warning letters and following up with anti-social behaviour contracts (ABC) if the behaviour continues.”

Earlier this year we reported on probably the most extreme wheelies we’ve ever seen.

Uploaded to Instagram by New York City-based self-styled “extreme bike rider” Rrdblocks, video footage shows a succession of riders popping wheelies as they negotiate obstacles including street furniture, the heads of friends lying in the road and, erm, oncoming traffic.

wheelie
Hertford
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44 comments

Avatar
kitsunegari | 7 years ago
0 likes

Good to know that they have their priorities right.

Avatar
ColT | 7 years ago
1 like

Did anyone mention helmets?  

For the love of God, please, PLEASE won't somebody think of the children?! 3

Avatar
hsiaolc | 7 years ago
4 likes

I don't really see the problem. 

 

We have much more problems to tackle than that. 

 

Better them doing wheelies and manuals than do nothing at home and play computer games. 

Avatar
dottigirl | 7 years ago
1 like

As mentioned on the other thread...

dottigirl wrote:

I'm hoping they don't clamp down on the wheelie kids going up and down my street - it's made the bus drivers think again and slow down to the 20mph they're supposed to be doing.

It amuses me to see what bikes the ride too - from BMX to Boris. They must have pumps and the like because I've never seen them with flat tyres.

Avatar
wycombewheeler replied to dottigirl | 7 years ago
0 likes
dottigirl wrote:

As mentioned on the other thread...

dottigirl wrote:

I'm hoping they don't clamp down on the wheelie kids going up and down my street - it's made the bus drivers think again and slow down to the 20mph they're supposed to be doing.

It amuses me to see what bikes the ride too - from BMX to Boris. They must have pumps and the like because I've never seen them with flat tyres.

How can you tell if the front is flat when it isn't on the ground?

Avatar
ktache | 7 years ago
4 likes

"They say warning letters could be handed out to persistent offenders."

 

Ohhhhh, will it be quite stern?

Avatar
wycombewheeler | 7 years ago
3 likes

I saw a yoof doing a wheelie having removed the front wheel, think it woukd blow their minds.

More seriously if the system is that a certain number of complaints ts all that is required to trigger "a crackdown" perhaps we should all ring the police in Herts complaining about people on their mobiles while driving.

Avatar
maviczap | 7 years ago
4 likes

Must be a thing with young lads, I saw 2 wheelieing on the pavement as they left school, I thought it was daft and stupid, but its exactly what boys did when I was at school nearly 40 years ago! I couldn't wheelie then & I can barely do one now.

But I know who started it all and the mastermind behind this sick craze, so I'm going the claim my Crimestoppers reward.

 

 

Avatar
ktache | 7 years ago
2 likes

I wish I had the skills to filter whilst wheelieing, the fuming that would be going on.

Avatar
rnick | 7 years ago
3 likes

Wheelies - they've been watching that Peter Sagan again..

Avatar
WillRod | 7 years ago
3 likes

I sometimes see kids popping wheelies and manuals.

Mostly I see young lads on mopeds pulling wheelies and motorbikers pulling wheelies. That's before you count the mopeds and motocross bikes on footpaths, riding 3 up on mopeds (kinda impressive) and generally acting like idiots.

 

This will probably be one of their usual 1 week crackdowns, where they target certain crimes before quietly forgetting them until next year.

Avatar
FluffyKittenofT... | 7 years ago
2 likes

How much of this is really the police's fault, and how much is down to some old folk (dare one say 'baby boomers'?) with nothing better to do kicking up a fuss?

Police priorities always seem to be set by people with a lot of time on their hands and a poor grasp of reality.

(What was it Sid Vicious said about 'the man on the street'?)

Avatar
cqexbesd replied to FluffyKittenofTindalos | 7 years ago
2 likes

FluffyKittenofTindalos wrote:

How much of this is really the police's fault, and how much is down to some old folk (dare one say 'baby boomers'?) with nothing better to do kicking up a fuss? Police priorities always seem to be set by people with a lot of time on their hands and a poor grasp of reality.

 

While I think that is somewaht true, it's not like there hasn't been a lot of shouting, for a long time, over poor driving - from cyclists and others - and not that much happens given the scale and consequences of the problem.

I think it's not just someone shouting about it, it is also that the shouting fits in with the pre-conceptions or dominant narrative that the people who set police prioties already have. It also probab;ly helps to come from people that are thought to be deserving. It's all about "common sense".

Avatar
davel replied to cqexbesd | 7 years ago
2 likes
cqexbesd wrote:

FluffyKittenofTindalos wrote:

How much of this is really the police's fault, and how much is down to some old folk (dare one say 'baby boomers'?) with nothing better to do kicking up a fuss? Police priorities always seem to be set by people with a lot of time on their hands and a poor grasp of reality.

 

While I think that is somewaht true, it's not like there hasn't been a lot of shouting, for a long time, over poor driving - from cyclists and others - and not that much happens given the scale and consequences of the problem.

I think it's not just someone shouting about it, it is also that the shouting fits in with the pre-conceptions or dominant narrative that the people who set police prioties already have. It also probab;ly helps to come from people that are thought to be deserving. It's all about "common sense".

... and a sense of entitlement.

Boomers didn't not fight in a war or have the best standard of living ever known to spend their retirement leaving the country better off for future generations or just shutting the fuck up, you know!

Avatar
oldstrath replied to davel | 7 years ago
4 likes

davel wrote:
cqexbesd wrote:

FluffyKittenofTindalos wrote:

How much of this is really the police's fault, and how much is down to some old folk (dare one say 'baby boomers'?) with nothing better to do kicking up a fuss? Police priorities always seem to be set by people with a lot of time on their hands and a poor grasp of reality.

 

While I think that is somewaht true, it's not like there hasn't been a lot of shouting, for a long time, over poor driving - from cyclists and others - and not that much happens given the scale and consequences of the problem.

I think it's not just someone shouting about it, it is also that the shouting fits in with the pre-conceptions or dominant narrative that the people who set police prioties already have. It also probab;ly helps to come from people that are thought to be deserving. It's all about "common sense".

... and a sense of entitlement. Boomers didn't not fight in a war or have the best standard of living ever known to spend their retirement leaving the country better off for future generations or just shutting the fuck up, you know!

Speaking as a proper baby boomer my only problem with these kids is that they can wheelie further than me. Maybe I shouild be writing to the Mail about areseholes who give baby boomers a bad name.

Avatar
davel replied to oldstrath | 7 years ago
4 likes
oldstrath wrote:

davel wrote:
cqexbesd wrote:

FluffyKittenofTindalos wrote:

How much of this is really the police's fault, and how much is down to some old folk (dare one say 'baby boomers'?) with nothing better to do kicking up a fuss? Police priorities always seem to be set by people with a lot of time on their hands and a poor grasp of reality.

 

While I think that is somewaht true, it's not like there hasn't been a lot of shouting, for a long time, over poor driving - from cyclists and others - and not that much happens given the scale and consequences of the problem.

I think it's not just someone shouting about it, it is also that the shouting fits in with the pre-conceptions or dominant narrative that the people who set police prioties already have. It also probab;ly helps to come from people that are thought to be deserving. It's all about "common sense".

... and a sense of entitlement. Boomers didn't not fight in a war or have the best standard of living ever known to spend their retirement leaving the country better off for future generations or just shutting the fuck up, you know!

Speaking as a proper baby boomer my only problem with these kids is that they can wheelie further than me. Maybe I shouild be writing to the Mail about areseholes who give baby boomers a bad name.

1 touché

Avatar
oldstrath replied to davel | 7 years ago
3 likes

davel wrote:
oldstrath wrote:

davel wrote:
cqexbesd wrote:

FluffyKittenofTindalos wrote:

How much of this is really the police's fault, and how much is down to some old folk (dare one say 'baby boomers'?) with nothing better to do kicking up a fuss? Police priorities always seem to be set by people with a lot of time on their hands and a poor grasp of reality.

 

While I think that is somewaht true, it's not like there hasn't been a lot of shouting, for a long time, over poor driving - from cyclists and others - and not that much happens given the scale and consequences of the problem.

I think it's not just someone shouting about it, it is also that the shouting fits in with the pre-conceptions or dominant narrative that the people who set police prioties already have. It also probab;ly helps to come from people that are thought to be deserving. It's all about "common sense".

... and a sense of entitlement. Boomers didn't not fight in a war or have the best standard of living ever known to spend their retirement leaving the country better off for future generations or just shutting the fuck up, you know!

Speaking as a proper baby boomer my only problem with these kids is that they can wheelie further than me. Maybe I shouild be writing to the Mail about areseholes who give baby boomers a bad name.

1 touché

Fair enough though, some of my generation piss me off royally!

Avatar
davel replied to oldstrath | 7 years ago
0 likes
oldstrath wrote:

davel wrote:
oldstrath wrote:

davel wrote:
cqexbesd wrote:

FluffyKittenofTindalos wrote:

How much of this is really the police's fault, and how much is down to some old folk (dare one say 'baby boomers'?) with nothing better to do kicking up a fuss? Police priorities always seem to be set by people with a lot of time on their hands and a poor grasp of reality.

 

While I think that is somewaht true, it's not like there hasn't been a lot of shouting, for a long time, over poor driving - from cyclists and others - and not that much happens given the scale and consequences of the problem.

I think it's not just someone shouting about it, it is also that the shouting fits in with the pre-conceptions or dominant narrative that the people who set police prioties already have. It also probab;ly helps to come from people that are thought to be deserving. It's all about "common sense".

... and a sense of entitlement. Boomers didn't not fight in a war or have the best standard of living ever known to spend their retirement leaving the country better off for future generations or just shutting the fuck up, you know!

Speaking as a proper baby boomer my only problem with these kids is that they can wheelie further than me. Maybe I shouild be writing to the Mail about areseholes who give baby boomers a bad name.

1 touché

Fair enough though, some of my generation piss me off royally!

Don't get me going on the royals...!

Avatar
Sniffer replied to davel | 7 years ago
1 like
davel wrote:
oldstrath wrote:

davel wrote:
oldstrath wrote:

davel wrote:
cqexbesd wrote:

FluffyKittenofTindalos wrote:

How much of this is really the police's fault, and how much is down to some old folk (dare one say 'baby boomers'?) with nothing better to do kicking up a fuss? Police priorities always seem to be set by people with a lot of time on their hands and a poor grasp of reality.

 

While I think that is somewaht true, it's not like there hasn't been a lot of shouting, for a long time, over poor driving - from cyclists and others - and not that much happens given the scale and consequences of the problem.

I think it's not just someone shouting about it, it is also that the shouting fits in with the pre-conceptions or dominant narrative that the people who set police prioties already have. It also probab;ly helps to come from people that are thought to be deserving. It's all about "common sense".

... and a sense of entitlement. Boomers didn't not fight in a war or have the best standard of living ever known to spend their retirement leaving the country better off for future generations or just shutting the fuck up, you know!

Speaking as a proper baby boomer my only problem with these kids is that they can wheelie further than me. Maybe I shouild be writing to the Mail about areseholes who give baby boomers a bad name.

1 touché

Fair enough though, some of my generation piss me off royally!

Don't get me going on the royals...!

Oh, go for it. I suspect I might agree with you.

Avatar
janusz0 replied to oldstrath | 7 years ago
0 likes

Speaking as a proper baby boomer my only problem with these kids is that they can wheelie further than me. Maybe I shouild be writing to the Mail about areseholes who give baby boomers a bad name.

[/quote]
I'm surprised that a US reader is writing to the Mail. In this country we Bulge Babies knew nothing about Baby Boomers until the game "Trivial Pursuit" turned up on this side of the Atlantic.

Avatar
ConcordeCX replied to FluffyKittenofTindalos | 7 years ago
2 likes

FluffyKittenofTindalos wrote:

How much of this is really the police's fault, and how much is down to some old folk (dare one say 'baby boomers'?) with nothing better to do kicking up a fuss? Police priorities always seem to be set by people with a lot of time on their hands and a poor grasp of reality. (What was it Sid Vicious said about 'the man on the street'?)

surely you mean 'baby boomer' Sid Vicious? He didn't have a very firm grip on reality. He was a mere 3 weeks older than me, and I seem to remember back in the day we boomers were sometimes very naughty indeed, occasionally going to real extremes, like running through fields of wheat.

 

Avatar
BehindTheBikesheds | 7 years ago
3 likes

Hertfordshire Police, weak as fuck, lazy, incompetent, don't know the law, won't enforce the law, protect their own, don't give a fuck about people on bikes.

This article comes as no surprise.

Avatar
Grahamd | 7 years ago
3 likes

Has anybody ask them why they do it? My theory is that it is the ultimate defensive riding as:

A) There has been no reported RTA involving such riding.

B) Police always appear available for such riders.

C) Visibility, car drivers seem to easily notice them.

Better get practicing, only learned to bunny hop a couple of years ago.

Avatar
wycombewheeler replied to Grahamd | 7 years ago
2 likes
Grahamd wrote:

Has anybody ask them why they do it? My theory is that it is the ultimate defensive riding as:

A) There has been no reported RTA involving such riding.

B) Police always appear available for such riders.

C) Visibility, car drivers seem to easily notice them.

Better get practicing, only learned to bunny hop a couple of years ago.

Like wearing black and no lights colleagues always moan at me about the invisible cyclists they keep seeing.

4th reason, maybe they are tired and fancy a ride home in a police van

Avatar
kil0ran | 7 years ago
2 likes

When I drove up for Ride London there was a kid on the A13 who wheelied whilst filtering past the entire queue of traffic waiting for the lights. Sadly dashcam had packed up, it was epic. Got loads of abuse for it

Avatar
Biggus-Dickkus | 7 years ago
7 likes

Meanwhile criminals steal your car and break into your house but we can be rest assured that we will be safe knowing that anyone caught doing a wheelie on a bicycle will be dealt with...

A few months ago 3 cars in our road were vandalised. This was reported to the police and they couldn't even be bothered to come round. Doing some investigation with our neighbours we found out who did this (3 x 17 year old schoolboys) and contacted the offenders directly and made them pay for the damage done to the three cars... 

Avatar
davel replied to Biggus-Dickkus | 7 years ago
11 likes
Biggus-Dickkus wrote:

Meanwhile criminals steal your car and break into your house but we can be rest assured that we will be safe knowing that anyone caught doing a wheelie on a bicycle will be dealt with...

A few months ago 3 cars in our road were vandalised. This was reported to the police and they couldn't even be bothered to come round. Doing some investigation with our neighbours we found out who did this (3 x 17 year old schoolboys) and contacted the offenders directly and made them pay for the damage done to the three cars... 

Dangerous vigilantism.

THIS CAN ONLY END IN ANARCHY, PEOPLE.

Picture a Mad Max, dust-filled, lawless dystopia where what's left of the police have their priorities messed up and focus on actual crime. Where miserable old bastards moan about genuinely anti-social behaviour that causes harm to others.

Is that the world you want?

Because the time to act is now. If we allow two or maybe three teenagers to perform wheelies for SEVERAL yards at a time, unchecked, in RESIDENTIAL or TOWN CENTRE streets, we will end up with a world we barely recognise, and where few of us can survive.

It's only a matter of time before SOMEONE, SOMEWHERE, ALMOST GETS HURT.

Avatar
Yorkshire wallet replied to Biggus-Dickkus | 7 years ago
4 likes
Biggus-Dickkus wrote:

Meanwhile criminals steal your car and break into your house but we can be rest assured that we will be safe knowing that anyone caught doing a wheelie on a bicycle will be dealt with...

A few months ago 3 cars in our road were vandalised. This was reported to the police and they couldn't even be bothered to come round. Doing some investigation with our neighbours we found out who did this (3 x 17 year old schoolboys) and contacted the offenders directly and made them pay for the damage done to the three cars... 

Mate's sister got her motorbike nicked from the garage, we had a suspect (the ex who was a 'bad boy') but the police wouldn't even question him as they claimed the needed evidence to do so. How do you collect evidence if you won't even do the most basic stuff like asking a couple of questions?

Maybe wheeled on bikes is like a gateway drug? You start on bmxs, move onto MTBs, get a motorbike and then end up on the hard stuff like top fuel dragsters?

Avatar
ashliejay | 7 years ago
6 likes

how about giving kids a place to go to do wheelies, for as long as their has been kids on bikes there's been kids pulling wheelies on them.

Avatar
srchar | 7 years ago
1 like

Have they not noticed the craze for wheelieing mopeds? I see it all the time and it's far more dangerous than a wheelie on a pushbike.

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