‘Swerving’ brings dangerous bike-riding trend to Worcester streets
WORCESTER - At 15 years old, Jonathan seems to feel invincible.
After school he gets on his bike and rides - often down the middle of the road, sans helmet - practicing his swerves and - like many other young bikers in the city - frightening motorists trying to avoid hitting the rogue cyclists.
He owned up to it when asked if he rides in traffic, though his friends deny that they do. Many motorists have seen daring youths in the Grafton Street area in the last few days riding in traffic.
“I do it,” Jonathan said. “Just for fun. If you know how to, like, do it and do it well but not get injured.”
The practice has been dubbed “swerving.” It is a trend that has taken hold in U.S. cities, leaving police challenged as they seek ways to deal with a potentially deadly activity.
Youngsters on bicycles ride in traffic, popping wheelies, running lights and aiming themselves head-on at cars, trucks and buses, and riders or drivers must swerve at the last second to avoid a crash.
Online, videos show cyclists practicing, aiming their front tire at a trash can or at the head of a friend who’s been brave enough to lie in the street. They pedal furiously, then swerve, with the goal of getting as close as they can without hitting the object.
When they get better at it, they take aim at motorists.
Drivers yell at Jonathan. A lot, he said, and he thinks about why.
“Because we’re stopping them from getting to the place where they’re
supposed to be getting or something?” he said, as though it was a
question.
Police have been confiscating the bicycles from youngsters they catch.
Worcester Police Chief Steven Sargent said some of the kids are as young as 8, and they travel in packs.
“We take some of the bikes away. If we can get to the families, if the parents are there ... what we’re trying to do is education, speak with the families, call the school department,” Chief Sargent said. “We don’t want to lock up 8-year-olds.”
Police have taken a dozen bikes from children who were riding recklessly, Chief Sargent said Tuesday, and there have been multiple arrests. Police have increased their presence in known trouble spots, too.
Police don’t want to see a child injured or killed.
“These kids? They don’t realize what they’re doing,” the chief said.
Jonathan said if he were hit by a car he’d probably be mad at the driver.
“It depends. Like If I’m going at the car, but if they hit me because I’m in the middle of the street (I’d be mad at them),” he said.
With his friends Wednesday afternoon, Jonathan said he doesn’t know if there are any laws governing how he rides his bike.
Jonathan also said he doesn’t see any reason to wear a helmet. He said he never met anyone with a brain injury and isn’t sure if even that would change his mind.
“There’s no use for it (wearing a helmet). I don’t see a use for it. I don’t like it,” he said.
After school he gets on his bike and rides - often down the middle of the road, sans helmet - practicing his swerves and - like many other young bikers in the city - frightening motorists trying to avoid hitting the rogue cyclists.
He owned up to it when asked if he rides in traffic, though his friends deny that they do. Many motorists have seen daring youths in the Grafton Street area in the last few days riding in traffic.
“I do it,” Jonathan said. “Just for fun. If you know how to, like, do it and do it well but not get injured.”
The practice has been dubbed “swerving.” It is a trend that has taken hold in U.S. cities, leaving police challenged as they seek ways to deal with a potentially deadly activity.
Youngsters on bicycles ride in traffic, popping wheelies, running lights and aiming themselves head-on at cars, trucks and buses, and riders or drivers must swerve at the last second to avoid a crash.
Online, videos show cyclists practicing, aiming their front tire at a trash can or at the head of a friend who’s been brave enough to lie in the street. They pedal furiously, then swerve, with the goal of getting as close as they can without hitting the object.
When they get better at it, they take aim at motorists.
Drivers yell at Jonathan. A lot, he said, and he thinks about why.
Police have been confiscating the bicycles from youngsters they catch.
Worcester Police Chief Steven Sargent said some of the kids are as young as 8, and they travel in packs.
“We take some of the bikes away. If we can get to the families, if the parents are there ... what we’re trying to do is education, speak with the families, call the school department,” Chief Sargent said. “We don’t want to lock up 8-year-olds.”
Police have taken a dozen bikes from children who were riding recklessly, Chief Sargent said Tuesday, and there have been multiple arrests. Police have increased their presence in known trouble spots, too.
Police don’t want to see a child injured or killed.
“These kids? They don’t realize what they’re doing,” the chief said.
“It depends. Like If I’m going at the car, but if they hit me because I’m in the middle of the street (I’d be mad at them),” he said.
With his friends Wednesday afternoon, Jonathan said he doesn’t know if there are any laws governing how he rides his bike.
Jonathan also said he doesn’t see any reason to wear a helmet. He said he never met anyone with a brain injury and isn’t sure if even that would change his mind.
“There’s no use for it (wearing a helmet). I don’t see a use for it. I don’t like it,” he said.
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