Around 150 riders on dirt bikes, all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) and motorcycles took over a section of Woodhaven Boulevard in Glendale Sunday, pictured (Photo: screenshot)
July 19, 2022 By Michael Dorgan
Around 150 riders on dirt bikes, all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) and motorcycles took over a section of Woodhaven Boulevard in Glendale Sunday – blocking cars and causing traffic delays.
The unruly sight — captured on video and posted to Twitter — shows the convoy of riders obstructing a two-block stretch of the roadway from 81st Road to the intersection at Union Turnpike.
The riders – many of whom are not wearing helmets – are stopped in the southbound lane of the road revving their engines and honking their horns.
The riders are spread across all three lanes – including a bus lane – while some riders are on top of the concrete ramp that divides the northbound and southbound traffic lanes.
The blockade appears to be stopping regular traffic, with the video showing a number of vehicles and a police car stuck at the tail end of the convoy.
The video was posted to Twitter by @enforcelawsNYC, a Twitter account that posts about traffic-related incidents in New York City. It is unclear what time the video was taken.
Woodhaven Blvd Queens. Blocking traffic and intimidating drivers @ABC7NY @NBCNewYork @nypost @NYPDnews pic.twitter.com/i52a4BxkPf
— EnforceNYC (@enforcelawsNYC) July 17, 2022
Many of the riders appear to be breaking the law – since dirt bikes and ATVs are forbidden from being used on roadways. Blocking traffic is also illegal.
The video was retweeted by Council Member Robert Holden Monday, who blasted the bikers.
He also posted images of the group behaving menacingly along an elevated section of Woodhaven Boulevard. The images show an ATV turned sideways in the middle of the road with a rear passenger hanging out of the side of the vehicle. The front passenger is sticking his phone out the side of the vehicle and taking a selfie.
“This was an astounding display, yet again, of the lawlessness on our streets and the blatancy of criminals,” Holden said in a statement to the Queens Post.
“Driving in New York City is like a white-knuckled scene out of a Mad Max movie.”
Holden said he spoke to Mayor Adams about the incident and urged him to put a stop to this type of behavior.
“These make-believe road warriors should be in jail and their vehicles confiscated,” Holden said. “Dangerous stunts that put everyone at risk should get them criminal charges. If they have driver’s licenses, they should be revoked.”
I spoke to @NYCMayor about the urgent need to put a stop to this mayhem. Dirt bikes and atv’s are not legal on our streets, let alone reckless driving and shutting down the LIE and Woodhaven Blvd. These make-believe road warriors should be in jail and their vehicles confiscated. pic.twitter.com/Lv6FThAJro
— Robert Holden (@BobHoldenNYC) July 18, 2022
Kevin Ryan, communications director for Robert Holden, said many of the riders in the convoy engaged in various “tricks” and reckless shenanigans, such as wheelies. He said that similar incidents have been going on in the neighborhood for well over a year.
Another video posted to Twitter yesterday allegedly shows the same group riding through Washington Heights in Manhattan. The group appears to be much larger in size with more than 250 separate vehicles visible. The video was posted by @CrimeinNYC, an account that posts about New York City crime.
Some are pulling wheelies while riders toward the rear of the convoy break a red light, preventing pedestrians from crossing the street, the video shows.
The NYPD did not say if any arrests were made in relation to Sunday’s incidents.
However, the police said that it has been clamping down on riders using illegal vehicles this year. For instance, the NYPD has sized 1,921 illegal vehicles so far this year compared to 1,022 in 2021, an 87.9 percent increase, according to data provided to the Queens Post by the NYPD.
“The NYPD is aggressively pursuing every method to rid our streets of illegal dirt bikes and ATVs,” a spokesperson for the NYPD said.
“The end result must ensure the safety of our citizens while ridding our streets of this menace.”
Humongous dirt bike convoy heading up Broadway today pic.twitter.com/AUGV0GusP8
— Crime in NYC (@CrimeInNYC) July 18, 2022
The convoy in Manhattan consisted of around 250 vehicles. Some riders towards the rear of the convoy break a red light, pictured, preventing pedestrians from crossing the street. (Photo: screenshot)
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