A group of teenage girls and their mothers participating in a women's history tour were compelled to contact law enforcement after being subjected to harassment by as many as 20 youths riding electric bicycles. The incident unfolded on Marine Drive in Wollongong around 2:20 PM on Sunday, when reports indicated that a cluster of 15 to 20 e-bike riders persistently refused to leave the group alone.
Details of the Incident
The group had been part of the She Shapes History tour, an initiative that highlights the contributions of women in cities such as Melbourne, Canberra, Sydney, Wollongong, and New York. Police patrolled the vicinity but were unable to locate the e-bike riders. The following day, a formal report was filed regarding the occurrence.
Dr. Zoe Condliffe, product lead for She Shapes History, described the event as 'by far the worst incident we've ever experienced on one of our tours.' In a video shared on Instagram, she recounted that a tour guide was leading a small group of women, primarily mothers and their teenage daughters. Before the tour could commence, approximately 20 teenage boys on bicycles approached and encircled the group, inquiring if they could join. When the guide declined, the youths persisted with pushing and heckling.
'They didn't stop. When the women moved away, the boys followed. They mocked them. They harassed them,' Dr. Condliffe stated. She noted that the teenage girls on the tour were the 'least shocked of all,' as they considered such behavior normal. 'It makes me feel sad that this type of behaviour is so expected,' she added.
Tour Guide's Perspective
Tour guide Lindsay Burlton characterized the 15-minute ordeal as targeted, with two boys leading the misconduct while the rest followed in what she described as an 'alarming display of gang or herd mentality.' She expressed a belief that most of the boys are not inherently bad and emphasized the need for society to better educate and support boys in navigating peer group settings.
Despite the distressing encounter, the women resolved to continue with the walk. She Shapes History affirmed that it is 'more determined than ever to keep walking.'
Public Reaction
The incident drew swift condemnation on social media. One commenter called the behavior 'vile' and suggested that parents, schools, and employers should be notified. Another tagged Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and NSW Premier Chris Minns, urging their attention. A third remarked, 'It's not "boys will be boys", nor "it was just a joke". This is AGAIN a fundamental lack of respect and where misogyny germinates.'
Concerns were also raised about the prevalence of such groups of boys on e-bikes, with one person noting that they 'drive across roads blocking traffic and harassing pedestrians' and are 'emboldened by the group dynamic.'
