There’s a new sub-type of antisocial behaviour being perpetrated by youths and young men in the UK, known as ‘snapping’.
It involves teens doing wheelies on their bikes and e-bikes directly into the path of pedestrians and oncoming cars, before swerving at the very last minute.
Of course, they don’t always leave enough time to avoid a collision, injuring people children, as well as forcing vehicles to brake sharply.
Neighbourhood Watch’s (NW) head of membership, Cheryl Spruce, tells Metro it’s something she’s witnessed happening in central London and has spoken to many NW members who are worried about how dangerous this trend is.
‘It’s about getting a reaction,’ Cheryl says. ‘They feel empowered because there’s a lot of them doing it, so they’re being bold and not caring about pedestrians or other road users.
‘I was at a community meeting last night in Kidbrooke (Greenwich) and members said their elderly relatives were finding it difficult to go outside because there are a lot of youngsters on bikes, so they’re not feeling safe to walk on the pavements as they get cut off.
‘It’s really, really dangerous.’
Videos circulating online show a young girl being knocked off her pram on a promenade by a young boy purposely doing a wheelie towards her and her parents, while another clip sees a young man get flipped off his bike after he wheelies in front of a car.
Other pedestrians have ended up falling over in an attempt to run away from the bikes, while others cower in fear.
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‘Young people are looking for an outlet,’ Cheryl adds. ‘It’s understandable young people are trying to get this thrill factor but many don’t understand the dangers they’re putting themselves and other people through.
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They aren’t thinking of the repercussions, people can get seriously hurt from just a fall. They need to learn to be respectful of people and the environment in which they live in.’
It’s an alarming trend given that 45% of pedal cycle fatalities are in two vehicle collisions between a pedal cycle and a car, so doing wheelies towards moving vehicles only exacerbates this problem.
Not to mention, 234 pedestrians were killed or seriously injured after being hit by a cyclist or e-cyclist in 2025, according to the Department for Transport.
When it comes to cyclists themselves, they sustained 3,822 serious injuries and 10,645 slight injuries in 2024, and again, this trend could cause these figures to rise.
But snapping isn’t just happening in the UK, it’s become a big trend in America and Australia, too.
It’s sparked widespread fury online, with many mocking the teen boys for thinking they’re ‘tough’ and saying this trend constituted assault.
‘This is so ugly,’ wrote one, while another branded it ‘the best birth control ad ever’.
‘People like this should be arrested,’ said one commenter, while someone else questioned: ‘What’s so cool about this?’
Others warned they were looking for reactions so they can ‘get mad’ and get into a confrontation with people.
This behaviour can also happen in big groups known as ‘rideouts’, where many youths assemble on their bikes and block entire main roads. This caused quite the stir in Poole back in February.
‘There are bikes everywhere with kids on them riding in front of cars,’ Janet Trendle who lived in the area for nine years, told Metro.
She added: ‘We saw a gang in balaclavas shoplifting from our local Co-op, they left rubbish everywhere and graffiti covers everything. We started feeling unsafe in our home, so we packed up and moved.’
Footage shared on these accounts shows them swarming through the streets of Poole and into neighbouring Bournemouth, performing wheelies into the path of oncoming cars, forcing drivers to slam on their brakes.
One Facebook user, Martyn Dickson, said: ‘I keep seeing these little wannabe gangsters ride around like they are untouchable, intimidating other road users and being a general stain on society. It’s disgraceful.’
For Cheryl, the key to tackling this behaviour is reporting it every time you see it. ‘If there’s an immediate danger to people, obviously call 999, but you can report things to local authorities if it’s happening in your local town centre.
‘We encourage people not to be silent about it and speak up and report it.’
You can also take part in Neighbourhood Safety Training which is a free course offered by Neighbourhood Watch, which is for businesses but also members of the public.
‘It’s about being confident and knowing what you can do because there are many ways you can be an active bystander, and stay safe while you’re doing it,’ Cheryl adds.
Whether it’s stepping in to talk to the victim, or filming the incident so they have evidence to give to the police, there are many ways you can intervene.
Some police forces also offer active bystander training, including Bradford and Surrey, and it’s also free to take part. Metro undertook this training so you can get a good idea of the skills you’ll be taught.
Approaching the issue of antisocial behaviour with your child
Charity Every Action Counts has some tips on how to approach a conversation with your child if you suspect they might be involved in this type of antisocial behaviour.
The first step involves broaching the topic in a calm environment that is comfortable for you and your child. ‘Avoid starting the conversation when either of you are frustrated or angry,’ the charity states.
‘Explain how their actions can impact others, how their actions might be intimidating (even unintentionally), and why it is important to consider those around them when out and about with friends. Be sure to keep the tone conversational and not accusatory.
‘Then, outline the possible consequences of committing anti-social behaviour, addressing the affect it can have on their own life.’
The charity adds it’s important to be open to questions and make sure you sit together and find the answers to the questions if you can’t answer them all yourself.
‘Share with your child the activities within your area,’ it adds. ‘You can find a list of free and affordable events, groups and clubs in your area on your specified location page.
‘Thank your child, and show your appreciation for them taking the time to discuss the importance of anti-social behaviour.’
The Met Police have been contacted for comment.
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