Hoons banned

Here's a deserted Hickson Road at Walsh Bay, outside the Sydney Theatre Company at 1.30 this morning. Usually the joint is packed with hundreds of hoon-mobiles which descend on the City every Saturday night for a Lap of the Main. Most vehicles are souped-up or supercharged Asian eggbeaters. Generally they are driven by descendants of Asian, Persian or Mediterranean immigrants.

Last night however, the police blocked both ends of Hickson Road, restricting entry to residents only. I delivered a female resident home to Walsh Bay who recounted feeling heavily intimidated by this crew in her neighbourhood.

And last Saturday night I ferried a photographer up and down Hickson Road for some shots. Whilst he also felt intimidated by the large groups of hyped up young adult males, he made the point as a local New Yorker, one lived downtown in large cities fully aware ones neighbourhood can sometimes be subjected to unwanted visitors. That's life, he said.

I wonder though, what legislation would the police be relying upon last night to close a public road to non-residents ? Do the NIMBY's of recently gentrified Walsh Bay have that much power ?

Comments

[bourbonbird]

Wow, I didn't realise that residents had that much pull. Walsh Bay, who'da thunk, eh? *perhaps* action can be bought, even if only for one night.

[bourbonbird]

(note sarcasm)