Increasing numbers of youth anti-social on quad bikes, scooters, and e-bikes has left Edinburgh locals feeling “intimidated” with havoc being wrecked in the city centre.
This comes as an Edinburgh resident reported several unruly youths on quad bikes tearing up The Meadows on Thursday morning, causing severe damage to the grass, reports Edinburgh Live. Vijay, 40, a local resident, said that the number of e-bikes in the area had “picked up since lockdown” and that the use of these bikes on pedestrian paths was “reckless.”
Speaking to members of the Nordic Walking Group, they professed their frustration at the situation: “They come here just to make a mess. If they can come on the quad bikes they can go elsewhere.”
Emily, who is a member of the group and travels into the city centre from Currie, was upset by the damage. She had also seen “an increase in quad bikes or folks on weird scooters and e-bikes” in her local area.
An area particularly affected by the damage caused by the bikers has been The Pavilion, a space that houses a number of independent businesses, a cafe, and a charity at the base of The Meadows.
Erin, who works at Demode Vintage, one of the independent shops located in the Pavilion, said: “There’s always people on e-bikes and motorcycles that will run through here, and I know there have been instances where people are getting intimidated by them – they’re intentionally scaring people.
“With the Young Scot Card, I think the Scottish Government has done so much to give young people access to movement in a way that’s free and accessible. I don’t think kids have these expensive e-bikes and quad bikes because there’s nothing else to do.”
Concerns were also raised about the effect these events may have on people visiting The Meadows.
Lee, who runs FoodShare at the Pavilion, said: “I volunteer for a charity here, and what we’re trying to do is make things better. We have this really good community, and it indirectly undoes a lot of the good work that people are trying to achieve for the community.”
He detailed that these events had “been ongoing for a couple of weeks” and The Pavilion had taken to covering the ruined grass area with wood chips to keep it accessible. When asked why he thought people were doing this, he answered: “Because they think they’re untouchable. There’s a serious lack of accountability, punishment, and consequences.”
Don’t miss the latest news from around Scotland and beyond.Sign up to our daily newsletter.