JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Multiple people have been complaining about large groups of bikers in Jacksonville, who in recent weeks have been performing dangerous stunts in traffic.
Since our first story was published Monday, more people have come forward to report dangerous encounters. Many have said they felt uncomfortable sharing the same road with the riders who appeared too aggressive and intimidating.
“There were probably over 100 motorcycles popping wheelies,” one woman told News4JAX.
“Terrorizing everybody that got in their path,” another man described.
PREVIOUS STORY: ‘Someone is going to get hurt’: Motorcycle groups seen doing dangerous stunts around Jacksonville
Now we’re learning about another encounter. Like others who had encounters, we are not identifying the woman for fear of retaliation. She said she was traveling on Mayport Road near A1A on Saturday when she encountered the bikers performing dangerous stunts in traffic.
“Cars were dodging them, trying not to get hit. Then we got the single-finger salute at Mayport (Road) and A1A, but on Beach (Boulevard) it was even worse. There were hundreds of them,” the woman said.
When asked if she felt intimidated, she responded, “Extremely. It’s like you didn’t matter to them.”
Another witness we are not identifying as a safety precaution said he was traveling east on the Mathews Bridge when he saw a sea of bikers traveling west. Then he said he witnessed some of them crash.
“Two or three of them ran into each other,” the man said. “They were all doing tricks. I think they lost control.”
On Sunday, there was a fatal motorcycle crash on the I-295 ramp to westbound J. Turner Butler Boulevard. While the Florida Highway Patrol was unable to confirm if the 29-year-old motorcyclist who died was affiliated with the large group of motorcyclists whom drivers have complained about, FHP did confirm he was with a group of motorcyclists at the time of the crash and that he was wearing a GoPro camera.
While investigators say speed was a factor in the crash, they plan to review the GoPro footage to see if any stunts were performed prior to the crash.
FHP also says the group of motorcyclists who were with the man when that crash happened are all cooperating with the investigation.
News4JAX has reached out to the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office and it waiting to see if anyone will comment on the issue.
Member of Rolling Thunder says dangerous bikers are giving responsible riders a bad name
Rolling Thunder is an organization made up of retired military members. They provide escorts during military funerals and they also provide escorts for fallen officers.
Kevin Emerson is a U.S. military veteran who is also a motorcycle enthusiast and a board member of Rolling Thunder.
“Right now, we’re roughly at 9,000 members. There are 90 organizations throughout the country,” Emerson said.
They’re organizations that have a positive image of providing motorcycle escorts during military and police funerals. But Emerson says that image is now in jeopardy based on the recent videos that have surfaced of other bikers.
“There are so many good groups out there that do so much for the community,” Emerson said. “At Christmas, we all do the Toys for Tots run. And a lot of the general public don’t differentiate between the good bikers and the ones out there doing this craziness. It just gives us all a bad name. It really does.”
“I can understand where some people are scared,” he continued. “These big groups come by and do whatever they want to do and intimidate people. It’s bad for everyone around.”
This is why Emerson is pleading with the general public to not lump all bikers into a category of irresponsible people.
“It’s not every biker that’s out here doing this,” Emerson said.