Is Roadman culture spreading in the UK?

[dahle]

So I live in a town in Scotland, on my way home I spotted a group of guys dressed in the typical London "Roadman" outfit of black trainers, black tracksuits, bodywarmers and balaclava's then further up the street a few more came down the pavement on electric bikes shouting at me to get out of their way. I'm used to seeing neds hanging about and these are likely the same lads but it looks like they are trying to emulate look and vibe of London's "roadmen". I will admit the balaclava's are a bit intimidating.

Is this a think now, is the influence of the "roadman" and I guess Drill Music spreading in the UK?

Why do you keep banging on about drill music? It's got nothing to do with the music. Young lads have always had these subcultures, as pp said, it's only the associated fashions and slang that changes.

Been like that for ages in most cities. I do worry about the fragile little poppets who need a Canada goose puffa in the middle of summer. They need their circulation checked.

Read the articles, peoples views on that music scene differ.

It is maybe trickling down the scooters are a real concern they don't care, they just go up the pavements as and when they like.

@Coffeeishot I agree the Scooters and ebikes are a real menace but to be fair I see a lot of older guys in these as well.

In the 80s it was knock off Lacoste, Fila, Kappa, Fred Perry or the real thing if you could go on the rob. Along with stolen hot hatches and robbing car radios.

Those articles are just clickbait shite intended to give a thrill of fear to people living in the leafy shires. They've been writing the same story for decades - punk, reggae, techno, jungle, garage, grime... it was all going to corrupt the youth and dismantle the fabric of society. Plus ça change.

I’ve seen parents (mainly dads) with nursery/young primary school aged kids on them. You can rent e-scooters where I live and it’s definitely not just teen boys on them.

Yeah its late teens/early I see the odd young teen,

Well there are actual people involved in the culture who contributed to those articles and a documentary maker who made a 3 part investigative series about gang culture in Scotland so I think what they have to say is a lot more valid than your dismissive opinion.

Fine OP, drill is a menace and without it these lads would be Boy Scouts.

I think we have them in my West country city but I just call them little thugs.

We’ve had them in the Fens for years.

everyone and his dog uses electric scooters around here

We have them here in rural Yorkshire (I mean, really middle of nowhere, mostly sheep) but it seems to be dying out a bit. Always makes me laugh a bit, with their Puffas and their body bags when they're all called something like Simon Ponsonby and their dad has a big BMW to pick them up from the skate park in.

Our lot dress the part but they're actually mostly really lovely boys, just play acting really.

There’s a lot skulking round Manchester.

And it's environs eg Burnage. Salford is a hotbed of masked young men and . 2 were killed recently and you would have thought they had cured cancer and won a Nobel Prize the way they were talked up as opposed to tearing around on the ebike that got them killed

Loads in Sheffield.

They e-bike to richer areas and break in. Really difficult to catch and stop.Police helicopters always chasing them.

Try living in Kent just outside of London and commuting in!!!!

Thank you. A much needed chuckle tonight.

@dahle I have been out in scarf and woolies today.
I saw a ‘delivery’ rider in a balaclava and must confess to considering one for myself , these young roadsters should be much lauded for their functional and seasonal wardrobe

They wear them in the middle of summer too though!

there was a thread recently where a self proclaimed ‘goth’ was writing ever more fearful posts about ‘chav’ culture and associated music, the cited a boyband which sounded like goldie looking chain from the description, glorifying crime and violence apparently.
The thread was pulled in the end, wonder if this one will go the same way

I know, I presumed that was for wind chill factor whilst riding at high speeds but maybe now I’ve over thought it , it could be to prevent identification whilst riding legal/semi legal/ illegal ? (I have no idea anymore) e-scooters or ebikes?
who knows, I long gave up trying to understand youth culture when Andrew Tate came into power and everyone started speaking in patois and toting Longchamp bags around the playground

Why are they called Roadmen? Roadmen/man just makes me think of tramps.

They seem to have mopeds rather than e-bikes round here, they drive really erratically on the roads and through pedestrianised areas - its quite scary.

Pretty sure they wear the balaclavas because they're better looking than face masks. I chuckle: as though the police are well-enough resourced to trawl through hours of CCTV to solve petty crimes. The ones who really should be looking over their shoulders are the ones you don't see out and about.