A dangerous new trend known as "snapping" is leaving some older Brits scared to go outside for fear of being hurt. The trend involves a person on a bike or e-bike pulling a wheelie—lifting the front wheel so they cycle on the back wheel—and riding up to people as if they are going to hit them before turning away at the last second.
Videos show close calls and injuries
A slew of videos of the trend have been shared on social media platforms like TikTok. Some clips show cars and other vehicles braking suddenly, while others show pedestrians jumping out of the way for fear of being hit. One video shows a young girl being knocked off her pram as a result of "snapping," and another shows pedestrians falling over in an attempt to dodge the oncoming bike.
Cheryl Spruce, Neighbourhood Watch's (NW) head of membership, said: "It's understandable young people are trying to get this thrill factor, but many don't understand the dangers they're putting themselves and other people through."
Community concerns in London
Spruce told The Metro that she has witnessed the trend happening in central London and that some people are scared to go out over fears of being hurt. "It's about getting a reaction," she told the publication. "They feel empowered because there are a lot of them doing it, so they're being bold and not caring about pedestrians or other road users."
She added: "I was at a community meeting last night in Kidbrooke (Greenwich), and members said their elderly relatives were finding it difficult to go outside because there are a lot of youngsters on bikes, so they're not feeling safe to walk on the pavements as they get cut off. It's really, really dangerous."
Wider impact and statistics
Videos of the trend have also been shared in the US and Australia. Online reactions have been furious, with people taking to the comments of these videos in disgust. "Just being a menace for no reason," said one person. Another wrote under one of the videos: "You were a HAIR AWAY from running that guy's toes over." Another said that they do not let their teenage sons have TikTok because of trends like these.
According to the Department for Transport, 234 pedestrians were killed or seriously injured after being hit by a cyclist or e-cyclist in 2025.
