Popping Wheelies in Charm City

[Spot72]

It’s illegal to ride dirt bikes on the streets of Baltimore, which is part of the thrill for the young men who do so anyway, usually on Sunday afternoons, in a noisy display that city residents call both intimidating and thrilling. The Baltimore police are prohibited from pursuing the riders in high-speed chases, so they try to confiscate bikes and push for tougher punishment. Last November, a 23-year-old Baltimore man was sentenced to nearly six months in prison after two arrests for riding a dirt bike on city streets. Lotfy Nathan, who is directing a documentary about the bikers, called “The 12 O’Clock Boys,” describes the rides as a form of escapism. “You can imagine a certain population who doesn’t want to join the Boy Scouts,” Nathan says. “A lot of them resort to this sort of street sport with a certain degree of celebrity status. In parts of the inner city, they are pretty highly regarded.”

http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2...temail1=y&_r=0


From TBF in 2012
http://www.baltimorefishbowl.com/sto...oes-or-menace/

“I think a lot of people in Baltimore see them tearing through the city, and most people don’t really know what the whole thing’s about,” Nathan told Vice Magazine. “It’s assumed that they’re pushing drugs on dirt bikes—like a pack of dealers, or bandits, or something—which is kind of ridiculous, because these bikes are incredibly loud and attract a lot of attention, which is not what you want if you’re selling drugs.” As for the Boyz’ habit of tearing through city streets, preferably while wheelying, Nathan’s take is that “It’s illegal, but I think it’s a lot more innocent than some of their alternatives.”

[demopublican]

Baltimore’s Dirt Bikers: Heroes or Menace?

Menace

[demopublican]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature...v=xi-5wJwi-M0#!

This guy is incredibly talented.

[ivanbalt]

“A lot of them resort to this sort of street sport with a certain degree of celebrity status. In parts of the inner city, they are pretty highly regarded.”

Bunch of morons.

[mikep]

Kept looking for the bus to take this hoodlum out when he ran the redlights. Darn......

[yeah]

that video is great. love watching these guys

[demopublican]

This is great for the quality of life for law abiding citizens

[Spot72]

that video is great. love watching these guys

The city should consider placing a bike park and a shooting range for some citizens in the inner city for recreational purposes. A good population of our inner city men love their firearms. As you see in the OP, riding bikes in the summer time seems to be a big interest as well.

[ivanbalt]

The city should consider placing a bike park and a shooting range for some citizens in the inner city for recreational purposes. A good population of our inner city men love their firearms. As you see in the OP, riding bikes in the summer time seems to be a big interest as well.

There's been discussion on here about a bike park before. Do you believe people that do as they please on dirtbikes in traffic are going to obey bike park rules?

Shooting range? I'm going to assume you are joking.

[demopublican]

The city should consider placing a bike park and a shooting range for some citizens in the inner city for recreational purposes. A good population of our inner city men love their firearms. As you see in the OP, riding bikes in the summer time seems to be a big interest as well.

Maybe they could do a combo unit. Set up a bike park and let people shoot at them as they ride

[Spot72]

Maybe they could do a combo unit. Set up a bike park and let people shoot at them as they ride

Be careful advocating shooting civilians. Smokey1 & DHS & other 3 letter agencies utilize data mining software and can be alerted when you make remarks like that.

[Spot72]

There's been discussion on here about a bike park before. Do you believe people that do as they please on dirtbikes in traffic are going to obey bike park rules?

Shooting range? I'm going to assume you are joking.

Policy makers need to work proactively in addressing citizen requests. A firearm range in Baltimore City is long overdue and the city would benefit from the revenue. That same revenue would keep fire stations and recreation centers open. Face it, guys in the inner city love firearms. Let's create a outlet for them to discharge safely in.

As far as the bikes, this clip entitled
"stunting in front of the law"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sj_HOaAbi70&sns=em


is a good example why a bike park is needed.
The turnout for this Fall 2011 day is very low in comparison to other summer time Sundays in Baltimore parks.
Policy makers need to implement proactive solutions for a better Baltimore.

[SWK]

That's how Pookie roll.

[demopublican]

Be careful advocating shooting civilians. Smokey1 & DHS & other 3 letter agencies utilize data mining software and can be alerted when you make remarks like that.

I will keep that in mind. I certainly would not want anyone to get hurt

[demopublican]

Policy makers need to work proactively in addressing citizen requests. A firearm range in Baltimore City is long overdue and the city would benefit from the revenue. That same revenue would keep fire stations and recreation centers open. Face it, guys in the inner city love firearms. Let's create a outlet for them to discharge safely in.

As far as the bikes, this clip entitled
"stunting in front of the law"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sj_HOaAbi70&sns=em


is a good example why a bike park is needed.
The turnout for this Fall 2011 day is very low in comparison to other summer time Sundays in Baltimore parks.
Policy makers need to implement proactive solutions for a better Baltimore.

There are gun ranges in the area

http://maps.google.com/maps?um=1&ie=...&ved=0CLgBELYD

[Lawman 27]

The city should consider placing a bike park and a shooting range for some citizens in the inner city for recreational purposes. A good population of our inner city men love their firearms. As you see in the OP, riding bikes in the summer time seems to be a big interest as well.

Good sir,

Are you for real?

These kids are not doing this cause there is no legit place to ride, they are doing it for the thrill of riding dangerously without fear of getting into trouble.

On one occassion, they flew across 4 lanes of traffic to stop and give my Police Shift Commander the finger. They did not cut off all that traffic and nearly have several accidents cause they were good kids trying to burn off steam. They wanted to show off as to what they could get away with.

These kids know (as I have mentioned in other posts) that they are immune to the law and they flaunt their immunity every chance they get. They get their thrills NOT FROM RIDING THE BIKES, but from watching other people try to avoid hitting them.

“A lot of them resort to this sort of street sport with a certain degree of celebrity status. In parts of the inner city, they are pretty highly regarded.”

Okay, I'll bite: Who exactly regards them as celebrities?

Certainly not the old lady that was run down on Park Heights Ave one fine day.
Certainly not the honest drivers who have to swerve to avoid these cute kiddies.
Certainly not the old man who called to complain that these kiddies kept destroying his front lawn.

[Spot72]

Good sir,

Are you for real?

These kids are not doing this cause there is no legit place to ride, they are doing it for the thrill of riding dangerously without fear of getting into trouble.

On one occassion, they flew across 4 lanes of traffic to stop and give my Police Shift Commander the finger. They did not cut off all that traffic and nearly have several accidents cause they were good kids trying to burn off steam. They wanted to show off as to what they could get away with.

These kids know (as I have mentioned in other posts) that they are immune to the law and they flaunt their immunity every chance they get. They get their thrills NOT FROM RIDING THE BIKES, but from watching other people try to avoid hitting them.

The park should at least be worth a consideration. Truth is the department does not have the man power to chase over 100 ATV's and the 150-200 dirtbikes on these summer Sunday afternoons. An attempt of this would not be effective and would endanger citizens in the surrounding areas. Could you imagine a leo attempting to do this? The drivers of these vehicles know these alleys and cuts better than anyone and will be more than willing to take a leo on a wild goose chase. Let's practice safety here for our innocent civilians and our patrolmen.

Looking at the big picture, the citizens hail from the Bel Air Edison area to the Park Heights neighborhoods and communities in between. From the Brooklyn Park area to the Sandtown-Winchester community. That shows that a population within the inner city has shown interest in this type of activity. The riders are productive and tax paying citizens and Baltimore would benefit by having a sit down with them and finding resolution. A good proactive solution is needed for our riders to ensure the riders and the general publics safety.

[yeah]

i think the park is a good idea.

[infinite looper]

The park should at least be worth a consideration. Truth is the department does not have the man power to chase over 100 ATV's and the 150-200 dirtbikes on these summer Sunday afternoons. An attempt of this would not be effective and would endanger citizens in the surrounding areas. Could you imagine a leo attempting to do this? The drivers of these vehicles know these alleys and cuts better than anyone and will be more than willing to take a leo on a wild goose chase. Let's practice safety here for our innocent civilians and our patrolmen.

Looking at the big picture, the citizens hail from the Bel Air Edison area to the Park Heights neighborhoods and communities in between. From the Brooklyn Park area to the Sandtown-Winchester community. That shows that a population within the inner city has shown interest in this type of activity. The riders are productive and tax paying citizens and Baltimore would benefit by having a sit down with them and finding resolution. A good proactive solution is needed for our riders to ensure the riders and the general publics safety.

Seriously lol

[ivanbalt]

The riders are productive and tax paying citizens and Baltimore would benefit by having a sit down with them and finding resolution.

Do you even live in Baltimore? My guess is no. Because if you've seen the groups of morons riding together on say, North Ave, they are the exact opposite of the above. Will they flip off representatives of Baltimore?