I know Jake (Jake100_ on insta) pretty well, having employed him in my workshop for 2 years and I am a firm believer in Bikestormz. Jake helped dream up the idea with Mac, Kay, Harry etc a few years ago and since leaving the shop is getting paid a decent wedge from Nike and has his own bike out with Collective Bikes (a BMX company).
There are plenty of challenging things with their idea, some more so than others. Someone mentioned the lack of representation of women and girls within the movement earlier in the thread. This is the biggest for me. I think dangers to pedestrians and cyclists are limited by these riders cruising in big groups as they are much more obvious, but admit when there are smaller groups of riders can be a danger to themselves and others.
However, I think that the movement is a generally positive thing for the young people involved. The 'Bikes Up, Knives Down' hashtag is a major player in the movement and the point of riding around in central London is that it allows young people to get out of their ends to a neutral zone in which they can focus on their similarities and shared interest.
I also think that in a city of 10 million people it is easy to feel anonymous and marginalised as a young person, especially when all the buildings, quasi-public spaces and parks are owned by 'the man' and have stifling rules and regs. Bikestormz allows these kids to express themselves and reclaim some of the city scape for themselves. Even if it is just in a transient way.
I know Jake (Jake100_ on insta) pretty well, having employed him in my workshop for 2 years and I am a firm believer in Bikestormz. Jake helped dream up the idea with Mac, Kay, Harry etc a few years ago and since leaving the shop is getting paid a decent wedge from Nike and has his own bike out with Collective Bikes (a BMX company).
There are plenty of challenging things with their idea, some more so than others. Someone mentioned the lack of representation of women and girls within the movement earlier in the thread. This is the biggest for me. I think dangers to pedestrians and cyclists are limited by these riders cruising in big groups as they are much more obvious, but admit when there are smaller groups of riders can be a danger to themselves and others.
However, I think that the movement is a generally positive thing for the young people involved. The 'Bikes Up, Knives Down' hashtag is a major player in the movement and the point of riding around in central London is that it allows young people to get out of their ends to a neutral zone in which they can focus on their similarities and shared interest.
I also think that in a city of 10 million people it is easy to feel anonymous and marginalised as a young person, especially when all the buildings, quasi-public spaces and parks are owned by 'the man' and have stifling rules and regs. Bikestormz allows these kids to express themselves and reclaim some of the city scape for themselves. Even if it is just in a transient way.