Bike Crew

Has anyone experienced the Bike Crews that are really becoming dangerous to themselves and to drivers? They appeared out of nowhere and dart in and out of traffic, sometimes 5 or 6 across. It's terrifying if you're driving as you have to stop short and you think you're going to hit them. They're like Bike Flash Mobs. They're popping up all over the place. And they come out of nowhere. It's worse in the dark. They have a huge problem in Boston with it and it appears it's made its way here. I've read and heard some community folks saying kids will be kids etc. But it's only a matter of time before someone is going to get hurt or worse. And it will be driver who'll be blamed.

Tagger is supporting them apparently. He said he got together with a group of them and they respectfully had a respectful discussion about respect. Then I guess one of them had a bike stolen and he organized a grass roots bike replacing organization who respectfully replaced the stolen bike so that the respectful young man could then again complete his mission of causing a fatal accident or possibly killing himself.

I work in DOT (dorchester) and it's a huge problem. One of the reasons I stopped driving to work now that it's dark early. The kids are all over the place, on the sidewalks, going in the wrong direction, etc. Mostly young males around 13 years old. One of them will eventually get hurt badly.

I respectfully disagree with any adult who advises them to remain in the street. This is a public service hazard especially to the drivers. You can't stop, they swarm everywhere, darting in and out if traffic. I respectfully disagree that "kids will be kids'". And to those saying "Go up the Fairgrounds", it's private property , I'm sure Carney doesn't want the legal liability.

granted, i've never encountered these kids, but this is what I’m thinking....

on one hand, kids are being taught by parent(s) and adults around them that growing up sucks, that they need to stay young... and they're being enabled through a culture of irresponsibility, unaccountability, excuse-making, entitlement, escapism, distraction, etc, etc, etc

on the other hand, kids are being told they need to take life very seriously, that they need to do good in school so they can go to college and be doctors and lawyers, that god is dead, and that voting is the most important thing they'll ever do in life

then you got television, mov!es, music, video games, etc telling them that to be rich in happiness you need to consume, dispose, consume, dispose, consume, dispose, and that working at McDonalds serving up the worst food imaginable for human consumption, at minimum wage, is noble

and let's not forget about a media that is constantly bombarding them with violence and the very worst of human nature... but that watching the news is important, because it keeps you informed

no, if i were a teen again i'd probably be doing the exact same thing as these kids ... i'm just surprised they haven't gone 'fight club' yet and started burning down buildings they think contain credit card companies' records

They don't want to use the bike park, they want to go out and cause mayhem, "look at me!" type of BS. Wait till one gets splattered all over the road. They should be getting tickets and fines, let the parents start paying for their fun and see how long it lasts.

oldskool wrote: no, if i were a teen again i'd probably be doing the exact same thing as these kids ... i'm just surprised they haven't gone 'fight club' yet and started burning down buildings they think contain credit card companies' records

I don't disagree with your points. I think they all factor into everything that's happening. In my opinion, it boils down to one or two factors. Lack of respect in addition to the proliferation of praise for people rising up to fight the power. I think these kids feel empowered and that the authorities (whether mom, dad, police, teachers) have no recourse to punish them.

There is a degree of "kids being kids", and I get that, but there is also a line that is crossed. I was a kid, and I did stupid things. The difference is that when I did stupid things it was, most of the time, out of stupidity with no underlying motives. But what I see here is kids flipping the bird to authority, and that is what concerns me. They know what they are doing is stupid, dangerous, and could injure themselves or others. They also know that, in this social media society, someone, somewhere, will hail their actions as heroes and people to look up to.

For every idiot out there, there will be some adult sticking up for them and the lack of accountability. This reminds me of the old inbrockton debates whether graffiti was destruction of property or "art".

Reminds me of the original skate punk crews. Teenage boys have forever been flipping off the po-po. My 70-something step daddy was a greaser and built really cool hot rods that he used in street racing. He still builds hot rods, but doesn't street race (at least not that I know of). My kid loves drive with him in his 34 Ford pickup with rebuilt and super charged everything.

There is a degree of "kids being kids", and I get that, but there is also a line that is crossed.

...the line always has to be crossed...lol

otherwise, mediocrity becomes your mantra

@Dennis said:" For every idiot out there, there will be some adult sticking up for them and the lack of accountability. This reminds me of the old inbrockton debates whether graffiti was destruction of property or "art"."

An adult "community activist" is already sticking up for them. I hope when the inevitable happens, he's still sticking up for them.

you know what's funny....

the older i get, the more unwound i've become... the less rigid i am

to me, anything that upsets the status quo is good.... and quite frankly, i could care less if someone gets hurt... because there's a whole lot of hurting getting done by those who stick to the status quo... it just doesn't happen in front of us

Those that are doing the 'riding" are assuming their own risk. What I'm concerned about (if that's the right word) is anyone who may get injured as a result of someone else's "reckless" behavior.

I'll be the first one to be a witness for some poor unsuspecting motorist. Some chatter on the Hub, boy I miss Carla!!

Dennis M wrote:

oldskool wrote: no, if i were a teen again i'd probably be doing the exact same thing as these kids ... i'm just surprised they haven't gone 'fight club' yet and started burning down buildings they think contain credit card companies' records

I don't disagree with your points. I think they all factor into everything that's happening. In my opinion, it boils down to one or two factors. Lack of respect in addition to the proliferation of praise for people rising up to fight the power. I think these kids feel empowered and that the authorities (whether mom, dad, police, teachers) have no recourse to punish them.

There is a degree of "kids being kids", and I get that, but there is also a line that is crossed. I was a kid, and I did stupid things. The difference is that when I did stupid things it was, most of the time, out of stupidity with no underlying motives. But what I see here is kids flipping the bird to authority, and that is what concerns me. They know what they are doing is stupid, dangerous, and could injure themselves or others. They also know that, in this social media society, someone, somewhere, will hail their actions as heroes and people to look up to.

For every idiot out there, there will be some adult sticking up for them and the lack of accountability. This reminds me of the old inbrockton debates whether graffiti was destruction of property or "art".

I could not have said that any better (well I could have, by throwing in a few expletives). That is exactly what they are doing "flipping the bird".

Daisy wrote: I'll be the first one to be a witness for some poor unsuspecting motorist. Some chatter on the Hub, boy I miss Carla!!

She's just a nutty on the hub too! LOL!