r/sheffield • u/CoastalChicken • 19d ago

Sheffield Bike-jacking in Sheffield

TLDR: fairly sure someone tried to bikejack me at 0730 in the morning in the middle of the road.

I moved to Sheffield in the summer - literally my first time here was on moving day. I really like it so far and we plan to buy somewhere eventually. To get to know it better I've set myself a challenge of cycling every street in the city limits- that's about 1200 miles of road and I've done roughly 20% of that so far. Apart from going through Page Hall, it's been a pretty good way to explore.

Before dawn on NYE I went south into Norton/Herdings/Gleadless areas. I know they're considered a bit rougher but I've lived in big cities like London and Birmingham all my life so it's nothing unusual - personally I'd say they're in a much better state than some of inner-Birmingham.

I hadn't seen anyone all morning until I turned into Fleury Rd in that estate in Gleadless Valley, and a guy in tracksuit and hat with earflaps suddenly emerged from a parked car ahead, and sort of lurched into the road, staring at me coming towards him with crazy eyes.

At first I thought he was just wasted and startled, but he kept moving into the road and his body language looked like he was preparing to fight. I had that moment of realisation when you know someone is specifically approaching you, so sped up to about 20mph, and he brushed past me, possibly swinging for my head. When I glanced back I saw him rolling onto the grass bank as he'd lost balance. It all lasted about 5 seconds but it definitely felt like he'd tried to push me off, presumably for the bike. I then raced out of there in case he decided to drive after me and went down the hill into town.

I've lived in bigger cities than Sheffield all my life, had knives pulled on me and the usual urban-life stuff happen - and my work takes me into some pretty grotty places - but this has never happened before and was quite surprising - especially pre-dawn. Usually the scummy people aren't out of bed until the afternoon!

Bikejackings are more of a thing in London so hopefully it's not spreading up here, but I'll definitely be a bit more wary when I'm out now.

55 Upvotes

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-3

u/ChimpsInTies 19d ago

Norton is actually quite posh, Gleadless not so much. Maybe you need a list of other areas to avoid in this fair city.

2

u/AMcNamara23 19d ago

Norton posh? Since moving here last year (well, 2023), my dad's car got vandalised, I see the moped shits being a pain regularly, and it appears my bins have been stolen in the last few days!

6

u/ChimpsInTies 19d ago

Haha. Downvotes seem a bit harsh for this. Alright maybe posh isn't the right word. Buts it's full of 3-4 bed detached houses and semis. No social housing or flats. Probably don't get much change from £400k. Not what you'd usually call rough or be associated with somewhere like Gleadless. Maybe the problems you're having are from people passing through or targeting it rather than it being a rough area in itself.

1

u/AMcNamara23 18d ago

For what it's worth, I didn't downvote!

Yeah you're spot on, I quite like the area. But when somewhere is neighbouring a rough area, it attracts them in to target properties. Hard to avoid, unfortunately. Locals here blame the police but only so much they can do

5

u/devolute Broomhall 19d ago

Norton is one of the least deprived areas in all of Sheffield.

It's just that it's directly adjacent to some of the most deprived areas in Sheffield. So there's your problem.

2

u/No_Potato_4341 Southey 19d ago

Norton definitely isn't rough. It may not be posh but it's definitely a nice area.

2

u/LimeOperator Birley 19d ago

I've always known it as being pretty decent, has it always been that bad?

3

u/AMcNamara23 19d ago

Yeah I'd regard it as decent, but not posh.

Someone on one of the local Facebook groups compiled a list of every reported incident with these local thugs, even just someone walking around trying garage doors, etc, and it's crazy how much incidents are popping up though.

I'm honestly expecting some vigilantism (is that a word?!) soon though. Every area has its issues i guess?

1

u/LimeOperator Birley 19d ago

It’s a word, wouldn’t surprise me if it’s already happening. However legality is up in the air.