A Bristol Post reader has raised concerns about bike riders who are reportedly "terrorising decent people" and putting off tourists. A letter published in the paper yesterday (Wednesday, April 27) questions if anything can be done legally to stop the "gaggles of yobbos" and their antisocial antics.
The author of the letter, who also cycles, claimed to have been personally threatened by one of the youths at Bristol harbourside. Signed off by TJ Martin of Bristol, it read: "Bristol has a serious problem with young yobbos on bicycles terrorising decent people going about their business.
"I say this as a person who cycles myself. There are just some anti-social sods who want to cause problems for others and who think that’s the done thing.
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"Beware groups and gaggles of these teenagers. I cursed three of them in the harbourside who had threatened me as they rode by.
"This verbal barrage I am pleased to say annoyed one of them. These people are antisocial and enjoy causing alarm to others, they don’t like it when it comes back to them. One day, and hopefully not too far away, the law will catch up with them.
"A friend of mine is going to look into whether you can take personal injury cases for distress to the small claims court. That distress can be caused is not in doubt – the law recognises this.
"Whether you can take this to the small claims court if you have the evidence is the question. Most of us can run our own cases in the small claims court.
"There is also an antisocial elderly man who rides his bicycle around on Saturday afternoons blaring out noise which destroys the peace and calm of public squares. He is putting off tourists – I’ve heard tourists mutter and shake their heads in despair at this high decibel noise.
"It is degrading life in a beautiful city. These yobbos, elderly and young alike, need to be stopped by the police and if necessary by determined citizens using the law (but not taking the law into their own hands)."
This time last year, there were also concerns raised about general antisocial behaviour at harbourside. A frequent visitor to Millennium Square, who witnessed a stabbing there, claimed it had become a "war zone".
At the time, a chief inspector at Avon and Somerset Police told Bristol Live: "Due to the increase in crowds, we’ve received more reports of antisocial behaviour and we’re continually working with our partner agencies to reduce the number of offences and ensure the Harbourside remains a safe place for people to be."
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