Loud motorbikes in Honor Oak

Is it just me or has anybody else noticed a lot of very noisy motorbikes in Honor Oak Park over the last few weeks?

They particularly seem to like over-revving their engines late at night (which maybe I notice more because of my baby daughter!), especially up and down Grierson Road and approaching One Tree Hill.

I guess I’m concerned about the late night noise, but also the danger of them frequently accelerating towards the zebra crossing outside the Overground station. I’ve seen a multitude of near misses there in broad daylight with cars not noticing people crossing - always seem to approach the crossing looking for a gap between pedestrians, rather than just simply waiting for people to cross.

Horribly, I can’t help but feel it’s only a matter of time before something tragic happens there. Though I sincerely hope not.

That pedestrian crossing is a real danger zone. I once waited for 3 cars to pass before one stopped to allow me to cross. Drivers want to get a run up for the hill so arent looking out for things like people or signs.

Re. the noisey motorbikes, I think its probably a combination of the warmer weather meaning the riders tend to go out to play a bit more, and the fact that we all have our windows open contributing to the fact they are more bothersome this time of year.

Yeah, the motorbikes will be louder with windows open. But, both my wife and I have noticed they seem to be much more frequent. You’d think maybe they’d have the sense not to murder their throttles after 11pm at night though!

It’s a strange phenomena at zebra crossings. If one person doesn’t stop, the next two won’t either. It’s like they’re on autopilot, which is rather worrying really. If your reactions are that poor, you really shouldn’t be behind the wheel.

I’ve nearly been hit on that crossing by a moped twice. Once i was 9 months pregnant and not too speedy crossing the road and he must have passed me with an inch to spare. Needless to say i was totally shocked and almost had the baby there and then. I now don’t even start to cross unless a car has fully stopped and reckon only 1 in 3 drivers bother even when the traffic is at a snail’s pace. Totally pisses me off.

If you go into other local forums you will find similar threads re noisy motorbikes &/or quad bikes. There seem to be various youth gangs and I have seen bikes go up and down Brockley Rise against the traffic, weaving in & out, through red lights etc. Opening up their throttles after 11pm and making as much noise as possible is I am afraid quite deliberate and intentional on their part.

As to what can be done, I’m not sure. You can report to the police, but the police will not chase motorbike riders who do not have a helmet for H&S reasons. And you will find that many of these riders do not have a helmet or will discard them if they see a policeman.

That wouldn’t surprise me in the least, have certainly heard some whiny mopeds and the like.

But most of them have been big bikes, clearly ridden by grown adults.

These are the type of idiots we have around here. Most on stolen off road bikes and they really really dont care about you or I.

There are also huge long marks along the roads near Stondon Park from long rolling burnouts from bikes.

As for the ages of the riders, you would be surprised just how young the riders of these big bikes are at times, especially when they are stolen bikes. (not saying they are)

I’d wager they are stolen.

Despite being only 10% of the registered vehicle parc, half of all vehicles stolen in London are motorcycles. The nice ones get stolen to order and sent overseas, the cheaper ones, off road bikes and scooters are used by gangs of hooligans for messing about and proper criminal behaviour like muggings, thefts and assassinations.

The Met show no interest in catching them. As far as they are concerned, it seems to be the owner’s fault for not locking them up properly. Having had a locked up motorcycle stolen from a secure car park when I lived in Bermondsey, I’m unimpressed by this argument. Especially when the police accidentally found the bike whilst looking for something else and still didn’t resource the investigation even when they knew who the culprits were. They’ve probably been up to all sorts since then (2008/9).

The Met have a tough job on their hands. These are idiots that ride on the pavement, the wrong way down one way streets, and even known to go through shopping centres.
Getting the balance right between a safe catch and a dangerous chase, they tend to go with caution and not engage where there may be any immediate risk to life of the public or the riders not wearing helmets. Sadly the riders know this so don’t wear helmets.

The Met do however have regular crackdowns on known areas, involving their own off road and road bikes, road traffic, and the heli.

I am sure the police are open to suggestions on how better to tackle the problem. If you follow the police on Twitter I am sure you will see a number of cases being solved frequently, Maybe more than you expect.

I think you may be giving them a little too much credit. Even the cheapest road legal motorcycle will be a £1000 upwards, but because the vehicles are insured (generally), the police seem less inclined to investigate. If a gang like this stole 2 or 3 bikes a week, they’d have stolen £100,000 or more worth of stuff in a year. A similar gang defrauding old ladies out of a couple of grand a week would expect to have their collars felt, but because the person out of pocket in the first instance is largely the faceless insurance company, such crimes are not considered a priority.

Years of underprioritisation of vehicle theft has now led to a situation where criminals can act with impunity and the police appear powerless to do anything.

Fair play, our opinions clearly differ vastly.

Just out of sheer curiosity, what you would like to see the police doing better, to actually apprehend these criminals when they are on the road?

There may be some, but plenty I’ve seen look like proper bikers with all the expensive kit and that. May have stolen it I suppose, but something about them uggests not to me.

I have to agree that there are some very experienced and keen legit bikers out there would love to have a bit of (fun) too. Not every recklessly ridden bike or driven car is stolen.

Even if the vehicle isn’t “stolen”, the idea that it is taxed, tested and properly insured and the rider has the relevant licence is unlikely. Furthermore, the vehicle may be paid for by the proceeds of crime, e.g. trading up from a previously stolen vehicle or robbing jewellery stores on mopeds.

Of course, they may just put in really long weeks and have very low expenses and perhaps I’m being cynical.

Anyway, anyone wanting to find out some more about groups of illegal riders larking about on South East London’s roads needs to watch this - http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/p042yq74/britains-most-wanted-motorbike-gangs (set in Peckham and Woolwich) - visit ukbikelife.com or type “uk bikelife” into Youtube where you will see young proudly riding illegally and recklessly on the road whilst admitting to vehicle theft.

I have to say I think there are two VERY different groups of people. Most people at properly organised motorbike meets are full legit, but still ride like arses. You only have to look at the decades on Chelsea Bridge for that. (having witnessed the death of a legit, highly trained rider being stupid)

To suggest that any group of bikes of any kind is somehow breaking the law, be it stolen or insured, is the same sweeping statement that all youths on the streets will be out to mug or burgle peoples homes. Aka simply not true.

I totally understand the frustration caused by these activities, and am too annoyed by the ongoing behaviour, and even just the stupidly loud exhausts on some of the bikes, even though they still go nowhere fast.I am not for one second denying you have a point there, you really do.
But to brand everyone with the same mark is wrong.

I also think that progress IS being made on these groups, as I say you only have to watch @metpoliceuk on Twitter to see the number of arrests, confiscations, and investigations going on.

I would ask again though, further to these comments, do you have any proactive suggestions for the police to move forwards with apprehanding these moped and motorcycle riders when spotted on the streets?
It’s easy to say “do more” but what exactly?

As for the point about the police expect the owners to keep their bikes safe, I get that. A colleague of mine had his locked bike stolen from a secure gated and camered compound, also in Bermondsey. He couldn’t really have done much more about it. But given the pickings between secure and insecure, I bet most thieves would take the easiest one from the range they are looking to steal. So there is a valid point there too. I would be curious to know the figures of secured vs unsecured bikes stolen.

I am tarring them all with the same brush, but that’s mostly for convenience of analysis. Of course, in any group of like-minded people, there will be a wide diversity of resources, behaviours and motivations, but we’d never be able to analyse anything if we took each individual’s specificities and differentiations into account.

In the first instance, the high-profile offenders should be targetted, arrested and imprisoned. Given that the police seem quite able to arrest, prosecute and ban idiots who film themselves breaking the speed limit, I’m sure that people who film themselves doing wheelies on public roads shouldn’t be a problem. In the second instance, diversionary schemese need to be set up for the rest. Even if we managed to get all these kids off illegal motorcycles and off the street, they’d be up to something else. I once did some fundraising for a motocross track near City Airport that was part of a council-assisted scheme to put these kids into some organised sport. Clearly, the funding needs to continue and the number of tracks needs to increase otherwise we end up with escalating levels of criminality. However, I can see councils balking at funding such schemes and NIMBY objections.

Also, you may recognise some streets in the video: https://youtu.be/bcx9dEtdkkg

Glad to see the tarring with the same brush isn’t as across the board as I thought it might me.
There are indeed a large number of idiots out there, legal or illegal, they are a nuisance and need dealing with.
That said, not every arrest is publicised, not every case discussed, so I am sure there is a lot more going on out there than may meet the eye. Of course, we are not seeing much of a change of behaviour and that is disheartening, and makes you feel that it is over looked.
The same could be said for knife crime. People still being stabbed far too frequently, but as it is a huge public concern, it’s profile is higher, so reports of arrests are widely publicised. Is it making a difference, hard to tell. Are the police trying, yup.

I am pretty sure that people do get locked up for motorcycle theft, dangerous driving etc, but these are repeat offenders who like their way of life, and will just repeat. There are many instances of people being prosecuted for filming themselves on the streets.

Diversionary schemes could indeed play a role, but to the majority I would say, this is about fitting in, peer pressure, and having fun. Dangerous mindless fun at that. I am sure some would be attracted to such schemes, but it would not make much of a dent. These are thrill seekers some of whom possibly left education early, so getting them back into schemes and routines isn’t easy.

There is no off switch to it all, but at the same time it should be cracked down on. It would be nice if the parents of some of these people would show zero tolerance to their kids behaviours, bringing nicked bikes home, or going out on legit off roaders onto the roads. There are many angles to approach it from, and like you I hope the right one is found soon.

My last bike cost a tad under £8,000 pounds. I worked quite hard for that. I have stopped two thefts of bikes, one got away but crashed (poor lamb) the other two attacked me outside my home, luckily I was quite drunk so weaved like a sumo ninja and they scampered off.

Talk about hard to please lol.
Na I know what you mean, and also recall there being a big issue with it around Catford and Lewisham, was surprised not to see so many this summer (so far). They are still about but in far smaller numbers.

Stondon Park seems to be a favourite at the moment, the rolling burnouts would be quite impressive if they were not to antisocial and annoying.

Oh blimey, there is even a name for it! Wowza. As for annoying yourself with your own noises, maybe you need a gag with that soundproof box? lol

Indeed, but from experience, give them an inch and they take a mile.
Chelsea Bridge used to be the place to go, then off to be silly elsewhere. But even the best trained can make terrible mistakes. And it only takes one to stop things in their tracks.

Just like there are places for cars to go and be silly, but they still like to do it on the roads too.

I reckon you should soundproof a single wardrobe, stick a gag in, and enjoy the peace and quiet lol

Since entering my 40’s I have activated the Victor Meldrew gene, so I know what you mean lol. I always have something to make a fuss about, even if it’s having nothing to moan about.

I know how you feel!

When I first moved to Honor Oak four years ago it was pretty nice and quiet (and I live on the high street).

Now, it’s endless traffic, cafes playing loud music till late and drunk people shouting in the street. We have to sleep in the spare room at the back during the summer months!

That isn’t good at all. Some like to call it progress, and a thriving high st, other would call it a move in the wrong direction, and bloody annoying.
Sorry to hear that if all causes so much mayhem for you,.

Oh for goodness sakes! I really wish I lived in HOP now, I am missing one heck of a party by all accounts lol.

Aaaah classy lady, all makes sense now. lol.

Lived in Honor Oak for over 20 years. One road back from the Main Street. Human produced noise level, IMHO, fairly constant over that time, although motor traffic has increased a lot. Which increases noise too. There was always noise on the main drag. The old phone box just down from the station used to be a known drug deal spot…associated noise and anti social behaviour. I will admit the general demographic has changed a lot, when I moved here my street was largely home to older folk over sixty who had lived here since the fifties or sixties, children grown and largely gone. I think there were about four or five of us in the street who had young children and few teenagers, or young single people. That’s definitely changed in my street. Lots more families and a fair sprinkling of rented homes shared by young people in their twenties and thirties. That’s a noisier, livelier demographic, I suppose. But, despite the changes I’ve seen in my 25 years here, I wouldn’t say it was markedly noisier now.

Away from the High Street, I’d agree. When I walk down Grierson Road, I’m immediately struck by the difference in noise levels, it’s quite lovely down there and the streets that come off it. If we lived away from the high street, I don’t think we’d have much to complain about really.

A bit of weekend noise is expected as a place becomes more popular, especially with a younger demographic.

But we’re situated above a very noisy restaurant (the previous establishments weren’t very noisy at all) run by people who don’t care at all about the difficulties they’ve caused us.

I think we’re going to have to move to be honest.

In Paris, they have the Circuit Carole which was set up to stop people being naughty on the roads (http://www.circuit-carole.com/le-circuit/historique-du-circuit/ en francaise). It mostly works as they still have the occasional person being stupid, but not great big gangs of them.

There are some pretty wild events held around the UK, allowing a little freedom, but not so much stupidity. Sadly even if some of these people went to these events, they would still see the roads as their playgrounds.