Originally Posted by CliffordK

Riders shouldn't be running from the police....

But take an action that will put an unarmed teenager in the hospital, or even kill one... and they could be up for police brutality charges, or perhaps even homicide.

Originally Posted by KonAaron Snake

As a guy who lives downtown and has almost been hit by these kids in bike lanes and side walks, you'll have to forgive me if I'm less than sympathetic to balancing their rights. It's not a cute little nuisance - it's extremely dangerous behavior based on theft. We're talking about unlicensed, uninsured kids without fully formed brains operating motorized vehicles recklessly in population centers. High speed chases may not be the answer, but doing almost nothing to address it isn't helping either. The what to do part is the trick.

Originally Posted by lostarchitect

Yeah, what to do is the trick. It's definitely dangerous behavior to everyone around, including themselves. But catching them, when they can just scatter and ride down any alley or up any stairs they want, is very difficult, and made more so because you don't want to kill the jerks while catching them--whatever they've done, it's not a capital offense. It really is a very tough problem for the police. My understanding is they usually settle for dispersion over apprehension.

Originally Posted by Essex

Some parts of the Maryland / DC area have suffered from poverty for decades and decades. And urban Baltimore especially so. When I was in Baltimore last summer I was surprised to see miles and miles of older homes abandoned (this includes parts of DC as Chris mentioned) and folks out on the street doing nothing. Given conditions (where you cannot occupy your brain, or maintain a livelihood) like that during the summer it is hardly surprising to see kids gathering about on their inexpensive bikes, or motorcycles trying to have some sort of "fun." In short - Baltimore is not/has not been doing well, and without some level of massive redevelopment, or huge social programs undertaking - will continue to be a sore spot for the nation. Pretty sad considering that the seat of the US government is only a short train, or drive away.

Originally Posted by LGHT

Maryland’s Bicycle Helmet Law
Maryland law requires all bicyclists under the age of 16 to wear a bicycle safety helmet when riding on public property. This includes roadways, trails and sidewalks. Some local jurisdictions maintain their own local rules:

• Allegany County – under 16
• Howard County – under 17
• Montgomery County – under 18
• Sykesville MD – all ages (includes adults)

In the video most of the kids on the bicycles were clearly under age the above age. Not sure if the police have the man power to enforce the above law or not, but it would be a good start toward getting some of those kids off the street. It looks like a zoo and a bunch of wild animals running around out there.

Originally Posted by Chris516

The Baltimore inner city has beautiful row houses. But just across the street from a line of fine-looking row stone row houses, could be a vacant lot, or a bunch of abandoned buildings. In DC, depending on what section of the city you are in(DC has Northwest, Southwest, Northeast, and Southeast). Usually, it is the predominantly African-American sections of the city, that are neglected. Not by the residents' themselves. But by the landlords. There is a section in the southern end of the county I live in. That makes the bad parts of DC, actually seem like a paradise.

Originally Posted by Essex

I visited the house where The Accidental Tourist was filmed. Sadly, this home/movie set is now abandoned and in disrepair. When I went to shoot photos of the home and parked my new Prius in front of a adjacent vacant lot a woman came out of her house to question what I was doing. I guess I represented something too out of the ordinary. Down the block were more lovely examples of classic Italianate architecture going to rot.

Originally Posted by Chris516

The despicable part, even more. Is that when Hollywood comes a calling. They don't help revitalize a run-won neighborhood where a film was done.

Originally Posted by kickstart

Why would they? They rent a location to make their movie, not provide social services.

Originally Posted by Chris516

Because, It is self-serving, to revitalize one house/building. Instead of helping to revitalize a neighborhood.