Mandeville’s ‘Wheelie Bandits’ strike again… and again… and again…

And again… and again… and again… and again… and again…

Teenagers on bikes weave in and out of traffic, events with impunity

Several near-accidents observed by locals, reporter

Similar activity reported in Slidell

MANDEVILLE — A group of roughly five to 10 teenagers riding primarily electric bicycles — affectionately dubbed the “Wheelie Bandits” — has drawn growing concern in recent months for what residents describe as dangerous riding behavior through Old Mandeville, particularly along Girod Street and Lakeshore Drive.

Similar activity has been reported in other parts of the parish, particularly in Slidell, were Slidell Police Chief Daniel Seuzeneau is warning parents to intervene with their kids to prevent serious injury, and that he is going to start taking action by issuing tickets or charging the offenders.

A group has been frequently observed in Mandeville on weekends, and even almost daily during the recent holidays.

Observers say the group rides a mix of e-bikes, regular bikes, with one or two riders occasionally using electric-powered scooters. The teenagers are frequently seen performing near-constant wheelies while traveling with — and often against — traffic on Girod Street, weaving in front of vehicles and forcing drivers to slow or stop out of fear that a rider could fall into the roadway and become seriously injured.

Locals have also expressed concern that the group’s constant presence and behavior is altering the character of the scenic old town area.

Mandeville Chief of Police Todd Schliem issued a statement to Mandeville Daily as follows: “I would like to echo [Slidell Police] Chief Seuzeneau’s statement regarding the reckless nature of some of our local kids when it comes to the operation of all types of bicycles. We have received several complaints regarding this issue and are taking it very seriously. Hopefully, we can get parents to talk to their kids about being more responsible. In the meantime, I would encourage anyone witnessing this type of behavior to immediately call the Mandeville Police Department.”

The activity appears to center around Girod Street, Lakeshore Drive and the Mandeville Trailhead, where the riders zip back and forth beneath the covered pavilion and across the grassy area in front of the stage, often maintaining wheelies for extended periods, especially down Girod Street or Lakeshore Drive, stopping traffic from time to time. The same gang was also photographed and filmed at a local gas station on Florida Street, displaying the same behavior.

While on foot, this reporter witnessed an incident on Girod Street in which one of the teenagers riding in a wheelie position darted from a sidewalk into the path of an oncoming vehicle traveling on Girod Street, forcing the driver to slam on the brakes and sound the horn. The masked rider narrowly avoided impact, then turned and continued riding in a wheelie, showing no apparent reaction to the near collision.

Similar close calls have been reported to Mandeville Daily near Girod Street, an area that regularly sees heavy vehicle, pedestrian and bicycle traffic, particularly during evenings and weekends.

Residents say the behavior has continued for months with little apparent consequence, raising concerns about safety, enforcement and how these teenagers are behaving in shared public spaces. No injuries have been reported to Mandeville Daily, but residents worry the ongoing activity could result in a serious accident if it continues unchecked.

Concerns were also raised by a local event coordinator who had reserved the trailhead facility for a pre-Christmas market featuring local artists and vendors. The coordinator said she attempted to ask the group to leave after observing the teenagers repeatedly riding their electric bicycles between vendor booths. According to the coordinator, her requests were ignored by the teens, and several of them plugged their e-bikes into electrical outlets in the middle of the vendor area to recharge during the event.

Many of the teenagers who have been observed were wearing helmets, often with face coverings, obscuring their identities and making it difficult for residents or event organizers to identify individual riders.

In Old Mandeville, residents say the repeated incidents underscore a familiar tension between preserving an open, family-friendly atmosphere and ensuring that visible disorder does not become an accepted part of the streetscape, as it apparently has with these “Wheelie Bandits.”

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