Gothamist

A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.

Gothamist

WNYC Listen Live

Donate

News

Columbus Circle Facing Skateboarding Teen Invasion

Ben Yakas

Published Apr 13, 2011

Modified Apr 13, 2011

FacebookTwitterRedditEmail

Never miss a story

Email address

By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .

[clint's] flickr

Ben Yakas

Published Apr 13, 2011

Modified Apr 13, 2011

FacebookTwitterRedditEmail

We rely on your support to make local news available to all

Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today

Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations

We have a long-standing policy to stay the hell away from roving gangs of pimple-pinched teenagers. And for the most part, as long as we steer clear of places like the Cube at St. Marks and the mall at the Atlantic Center, that's been working out great for us! But these hooligans have slowly been encroaching into taxpaying citizen's spaces in Columbus Circle, with their skateboards and their eight tracks, and people are none too pleased to have to deal with these pubescent flies!

From January through March this year, 311 has logged five complaints about bikers, rollerskaters and skateboarders around the circle—last year during this time, there was one complaint, and in 2009, there were only two. So obviously this means that chaos reigns: "I'm afraid they're going to kill somebody...They're wild," said Susan Herlihy who lives nearby on West 55th Street. She told DNAInfo that she was shocked to see how bad "the problem" had grown last summer, and was concerned for this coming season. Better break out the firehoses now people, time is a'wasting!

But lest you think she is the only one who is complaining: "They really don't care who's in the way. They just don't understand they can hurt somebody," said local Eileen Spinner, who now has to endure the indignity of picking her dog up as the teens speed their way past. Skating is technically prohibited in the plaza, and there is a sign saying as much hanging from one lamp post there, but skaters feel they are unfairly under attack. "People stereotype us as smoking pot and doing graffiti...we know how to control ourselves," one 15-year-old menace to society told DNAInfo, while (most likely) combing his mohawk, rattling his wallet chain, chewing gum very hostly, and for good measure, let's say, spitting on a baby.

Tagged

columbus circle

skateboarding

teenagers

teens

Ben Yakas

Ben Yakas is a former Gothamist reporter.

Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations

MORE news

New Yorkers are paying $300 million for natural gas they don't even use

A new study found that nearly 2% of the city's natural gas is leaking into the air and causing climate pollution.

Rosemary Misdary

Published Oct 14, 2026 at 10:00 a.m. ET

Early Addition: Eric Adams did not convince a Wisconsin town to build a data center

Because the vote against it was unanimous, here are your early links: Jacket weather, swishing your Guinness, spooky decorations in North Jersey and more.

James Ramsay

News

Early Addition: Eric Adams did not convince a Wisconsin town to build a data center

Because the vote against it was unanimous, here are your early links: Jacket weather, swishing your Guinness, spooky decorations in North Jersey and more.

James Ramsay

Hit-and-run driver arrested trying to flee to Uzbekistan after deadly crash, NYPD says

Brittany Kriegstein

NY measles outbreak more widespread than official count, health officials say

Caroline Lewis

A NYC judge brought his gun into court for an ‘experiment’. Now he’s censured.

Samantha Max

Never miss a story

Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.

Sign upEmail address

By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .