Cheeky boys: Monkey bike riders wreak havoc at Seaford, leave elderly residents in tears
Seaford locals say they are “sick to death” of lawless, dangerous monkey bike riders terrorising their street. But defiant teens rocked up to their official protest – baring their backsides in an act of defiance – complaining they’ve nowhere else to ride.
South East
Don't miss out on the headlines from South East . Followed categories will be added to My News.
Fed-up Seaford residents fear “someone will die” if nothing is done to stop a group of rogue monkey bike hoons from tearing along their streets.
And in an act of defiance, the lawless teens yelled at residents and pulled their pants down at a community protest organised by one man trying to curb the risky behaviour.
Hallifax St resident Jason Kemp says he was “sick to death” of hoons tearing it up along the footpath and neighbouring wetlands, with some elderly residents reduced to tears at night because of the noise.
Mr Kemp, 49, and his long-time neighbours says they hear gangs zooming down the street up to six times a day – and it’s been going on for more than a decade.
“It has become worse over the past 18 months (and) in times where I have tried to stop them, they’ve flipped me the bird and continued to do a burnout,” he said.
“It’s now at the point where it’s getting ridiculous … there’s been near misses where people have just missed them while reversing out of the driveway.
“They’re going at up to 50km/h without a helmet. It’s only a matter of time before someone gets hurt.”
In 2015, mother-of-two Andrea Lehane was killed when she was struck by a monkey bike hoon at Carrum Downs.
In 2017, the Frankston Motorcycle Club was shut down when a 16-year-old motorcyclist died on the track.
Earlier this year, Frankston City Council closed part of Seaford wetlands and installed CCTV cameras following damage caused by dirt and monkey bikes.
But the reckless riders told Mr Kemp on Friday that they had “nowhere else to ride” other than the streets after the motorcycle club was shut.
During the community meeting, teens were photographed pulling their pants down and laughing at the camera.
“They were being mouthy … it was the usual teenage bravado,” Mr Kemp said.
“(But) I’ll give them (credit) where it’s due … they eventually pulled their heads in and stopped when we tried to talk to them.”
Mr Kemp told the teens to talk to council to discuss where they can use the makeshift bikes, which are created by attaching a motor to a regular pushbike.
Frankston Mayor Sandra Mayer said the council was aware that illegal bike users “may” be accessing the wetlands through the entrance on Hallifax St, but had not received any official complaints over the past six months.
Mr Kemp said council’s move to shut off part of the wetlands to protect vegetation from bike damage had only pushed the riders back onto the streets.
“Council officers assist Victoria Police by passing on information into the misuse of the vehicles,” Ms Mayer said.
MORE NEWS
CRANBOURNE CAR CRASH TEEN’S DAD ARRESTED
KEYSBOROUGH SHOPLIFTERS ON THE RUN
MELBOURNE’S HIGHEST-RATED BURGLARY SUBURBS
“(We) encourage anyone witnessing illegal monkey bikes in use to phone triple-0.”
But Mr Kemp said calls to triple-0 and council’s hoon hotline were “useless”, with dozens of complaints left unanswered.
Victoria Police Seaford Sgt Phil Marshall said all people caught using monkey bikes in public areas would have the vehicles impounded.
“The bikes end up getting crushed more often than not because (the cost of) getting them back is worth more than the bike,” he said.
>> Have you spotted tearaway monkey bike riders? Send your photos to frankston@leadernewspapers.com.au
brittany.goldsmith@news.com.au