Baltimore dirt bikers might have skills, but not the kinds city residents want | READER COMMENTARIES

Dirt bikers should show off skills on a track, not the streets

I live in Baltimore and have observed dirt bike riders growing in number over the past four or five years (“Skilled dirt bikers deserve some respect,” April 27 letter to the editor). The riders make their own rules and do not abide by traffic laws or even common courtesy to other vehicles. And when a large group of riders tears down the city streets, it is indeed an intimidating spectacle, contributing to the city’s reputation of being lawless.

The whining noise of the bike’s motors is a quality-of-life nuisance. A relative of mine was in a city hospital for an overnight stay, and all night long the wailing of dirt bikes could be heard from the streets surrounding the hospital. I imagined somewhere in that hospital a patient breathing their last breaths to the cacophony of the deafening bikes. This is not entertainment!

My home is across the street from the beautiful Federal Hill Park. It’s not uncommon to watch people out enjoying a stroll with their dogs or small children quickly shifting to dodge dirt bikers who have ridden up the hill and circled the pedestrian walk at the top. In fact, the grass along the slope is beaten down by the constant dirt bike traffic occurring both during the day and at night when the park is supposedly closed.

So, in answer to the person who is charmed by the skilled dirt bike riders, stop the dirt bike riding on city streets and lead a movement to erect a dedicated track, where the drivers can ride without endangering others or harming private property.

— Elizabeth Butler, Baltimore

Dirt biker image detrimental to Baltimore

The Baltimore Sun editorial on city dirt bikers mentioned safety and image issues (“Putting the brakes on Baltimore’s illegal dirt bike riders,” April 26).  The image of dirt bikers zipping lawlessly through city streets is by far the more damaging of the two.

Look at the reporting coming out of Haiti right now, and we inevitably see young people on dirt bikes terrorizing the streets of that poor country.  Pictures from the Middle East in the wake of Hamas’ atrocities showed young Gazans celebrating on dirt bikes.

From the early days of the Hell’s Angels and Marlon Brando movies, motorcycle culture has always represented an attractive alternative to the status quo. Baltimore bikers need to be reigned in so city residents don’t feel like they are living in a state of anarchy.  But biker culture also needs to be recognized as something as old as the machines themselves.

— Eric GreeneAnnapolis

Dirt bikes, race cars and firearms have no place on city streets

Interesting point made by a reader in a letter to the editor (“Skilled dirt bikers deserve some respect,” April 27). I have a race car driver friend who I am sure would love to demonstrate his skills and his car’s massive acceleration and maneuverability in downtown Baltimore. Although technically illegal, I am sure other drivers would be impressed as all get out as my friend zooms past them on the city streets and would greatly appreciate the expertise involved. And come to think of it, I have another friend who is a skilled marksman, and I am sure the folks in Baltimore would greatly appreciate his skill and expertise if he were to set up targets around the city and show how he could hit the bullseye every time with his rifle and pistols. Sure, this is technically illegal but think of the great opportunity to demonstrate that expertise!

Get real folks. Just like race cars and firearms, dirt bikes simply do not belong on city streets — especially in packs.

— Bob Rassa, Fallston

What does race have to do with dirt bike riding in Baltimore?

Why does the term “racial profiling” have to appear in this, otherwise, reasonable editorial (“Putting the brakes on Baltimore’s illegal dirt bike riders,” April 26)? The kids are American human beings doing something illegal, what does race have to do with it?

— Lyle Rescott, Marriottsville

I’ll tell you why we shouldn’t ‘stand by and watch’

My jaw dropped while reading “Skilled dirt bikers deserve some respect” (April 27).  The letter writer asks us all “Why not stand by and watch their skill?” There are so many answers to that question, I don’t know where to start.  The dirt bike riders are not complying with the rules of the road, they distract and frighten drivers, they and their bikes are not licensed, and they can create accidents.  Last year I saw five dirt bikers move around traffic and drive as a group through a red light.  This caused oncoming traffic to have to veer off and stop.

We have to ensure that Baltimore is a safe and comfortable place to live. We carry our most precious commodities in our cars — our loved ones — and we need to protect them.  If there’s enough interest in dirt biking, let’s create a dirt bike racing park near the city so that we can watch this sport in a safe environment.

— Carolyn Stine, Baltimore

County residents have no stake in dirt bike issue

It is always cynically amusing to read letters written by county residents about activities they perceive we city residents should abide and learn to live with. In this case, Tom Irwin, who resides in Nottingham in Baltimore County, a good 10 miles or more from Baltimore City, in his letter of April 27, cheers on the illegal dirt bike riders, saying they exhibit great skill, and feels we city residents and other drivers on the city streets, should pause and observe with appreciation their achievements rather than try to rein in the abuses (“Skilled dirt bikers deserve some respect“).

First, many of the dirt bikes being ridden illegally are stolen, which is not appreciated by those who lost one to them. Second, the noise they create when speeding en masse through a city neighborhood is the decibel of a low-flying military jet, making sure no one who was having a peaceful moment or sleeping continues to do so. But perhaps Mr. Irwin feels that those activities should be a luxury for county residents, and not be a priority for city residents. Third, the dirt bike riders have no respect for pedestrians or other vehicles, and perhaps they “generally” pass by without causing harm, but for the times they do create an accident as a “phantom driver” it is difficult for that victim to get insurance coverage. And fourth, we city residents are trying to improve the metro environment for visitors, so they do not feel threatened or endangered, as the criminal element has had a severe negative impact on the urban businesses. And last, perhaps these young people need to be investing in something more productive and less damaging to themselves and our city.

Perhaps Mr. Irwin has experienced the occasion of dirt bikes passing his car as he was sitting in traffic on his way home to his quiet neighborhood in the ‘burbs and found it amusing and viewed the antics with certain awe. Perhaps he should make up cards and invite their group to ride by his house on numerous occasions and then opine.

— Georgia Corso, Baltimore 

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