Ybor.....sad.....

[Prettyboy]

Ran through Ybor for the first time in a month tonight after my Hyde Park stop and ........dammmmmmmm!

Just in 4 weeks I can see the decay progressing. Cops need to stop harassing fools on bikes and make them street walking high school punks go home. One on one you know there all just punks, but they roll 4-5 deep starting trouble. 2 fights within 5 minutes with cops within 100 yards........and don't even try to take a girl under 200 lbs down there. Dudes just walking hand in hand with their girl getting harassed by wannabee thugs! It was an O.K. spot to meet other sportbikers just 5 months ago......tonight I counted 4 bikes come closing time compared to 20+ just a short time ago.

[Rookie]

That really sucks. When they built the "Centro Ybor" complex, there was a lot of hype about making Ybor a more family friendly environment. That has definitely not happened. I have only been down there twice in the last year, and that was only because we had out of town people that insisted on going there.

[BMBSHL]

I've noticed that too, PB. I'm guessing that allowing traffic on 7th Ave now has contributed to the degredation. Instead of peeps being in the street where you could see them, now they are ducking down side streets and hanging along the railroad tracks.

[griffinzx10]

When I first moved down here in 1996 ybor was kick ass, but now it just sucks ass. Like PB said, too many punks and thugs and assclowns looking to start shit.

[craig]

The same problem exists at BayWalk in downtown St. Pete. They were having so many problems with punks fighting and causing trouble that I think they put in a curfew there for anyone under a certain age. They also like tripled the number of cops patrolling.

I don't know what age you were seeing in Ybor, but in Baywalk, the problem was mostly parents just dumping off their punk kids into the area and then coming back to pick them up later.

[larakat]

I've been invited down to Ybor a number of times. No way. And once the sun goes down...all the roaches come out. It's just a mess.

Our daughter went there once. (20) with a group (she said she's NEVER go there without at least 4 guys involved). One night, her girlfriend left the club to out and get fresh air on sidewalk right in front of the doorway.

3 guys tried to grab her and drag her away. She got away and back into the club. Called the cops from our daughter's cellphone. Nothing they could do, since the punkasses were gone.

The unstated rule for girls in Ybor. Don't go. If you DO go, make sure you have 20 times your weight in male friends and NEVER EVER leave the restaurant or club alone for any reason.

She's never gone back there again.

Baywatch in St. Pete is just a Deje Vu.

Sad indeed.

[LatinBusa]

It's sad that a nice place to hang out sucks now.

[PiznakR1]

I agree with you guys about ybor and baywalk. I've lived here (tampa) for almost my whole life, 21 of 22 years. The problem is respect, plain and simple. Sad to say that my generatuion doesn't have a whole lot of it, for anyone or anything. It's a shame too becuase ybor is actually a great place to go. It's a part of Tampa filled with culture and history, full of old shops and cafes. If you go in the daytime it's great. Nightime used to be a blast too. Now theres just to many A-holes down there that think they can look cool by starting something out of nothing and ruining both peoples evenings and our city. I guess I get so mad b/c this is my home. It's all I've ever known, and to see what it's become is just pitiful.

[PiznakR1]

AND COPS ARE SO BUSY TRYING TO BUST SPORTBIKES THERE THAT THEY ARE BLIND TO THE REAL PROBLEMS- FIGHTING, RAPE, DRUGS, AND EVERYTHING ELSE THAT IS TURNING YBOR INTO A S**THOLE.

[griffinzx10]

AND COPS ARE SO BUSY TRYING TO BUST SPORTBIKES THERE THAT THEY ARE BLIND TO THE REAL PROBLEMS- FIGHTING, RAPE, DRUGS, AND EVERYTHING ELSE THAT IS TURNING YBOR INTO A S**THOLE.

It's easier to harass sport bike riders than actually have to work and deal with TRUE crime. An improperly mounted tag is easier for a fat cop to enforce and appear to be working than to chase down a theif, or break up 2 people fighting.... Or even worse deal with someone who is armed....

[Prettyboy]

in that reguard it's called revenue.........

Thug wanna bees don't pay tickets........we do or we don't ride for very long!

[PiznakR1]

Yeah, it's as shame. One could even make an argument that the real problem down there is law enforcement. Cops are so busy trying to make the easy $ that they ignore the real crimes. Personally, it makes me sick to my stomach, but what can we do? I've heard suggestions on protests, potitions, and many other would be solutions...but none seem to ever take action.

[BMBSHL]

Okay, so I was in Ybor last night...Oh yeah, it sucked. Even the bikes that were there were driven by thugs...

[SloDown]

BURN IT DOWN AND START OVER LIKE GRASS FIELDS

[LatinBusa]

I will bring the gas and lighter.

[Rookie]

Okay, so I was in Ybor last night...Oh yeah, it sucked. Even the bikes that were there were driven by thugs...


It's been over a year, but I remember when we did some Thursday night Brandon Sonic bike nights and then headed over to Ybor after that. There was always the same group of about 15-20 guys that were yelling shit at girls walking the strip, cars driving down the strip, and just about anyone else that they could think of something to say to. Saw people from this group get into several actual fights and several shouting matches. As a business owner down there, I would be pissed about these idiots that are not only not bringing any money in, but are scaring money away by harassing customers. Of course in my opinion, the easy fix would have just been to have the cops come down and crack down on the assholes while they were doing this stuff. Instead it seems they are just cracking down on sportbike riders in general to keep us all out of Ybor....all the time.

[Headhunter]

I walked by Suntrust on the way to Irish Pub on Saturday around 1-ish...Thuggery everywhere.

Personally, I won't take the bike down the Ybor anymore, except to Coyote Ugly on Tuesdays. Last time I parked at Suntrust with 20+ other bikes, I got a $250 ticket for parking in a handicapped spot. That's what happens when you walk away from the bike for 1/2 hour. Bastards.

[SloDown]

I walked by Suntrust on the way to Irish Pub on Saturday around 1-ish...Thuggery everywhere.

Personally, I won't take the bike down the Ybor anymore, except to Coyote Ugly on Tuesdays. Last time I parked at Suntrust with 20+ other bikes, I got a $250 ticket for parking in a handicapped spot. That's what happens when you walk away from the bike for 1/2 hour. Bastards.

You should have limped to the bike....LOL

Or borrowed and photo copied one of the real handicap parking decals then put it on your bike..hahah

that would mess up a cops head

Try putting donnuts on your handlebars they will appreciate it

[Method]

I haven't even beer here all that long and have seen Ybor getting worse. I went about a year and a half ago and had a blast - great crowd and cool people.

I was out there about a month ago and saw exactly what you guys are talking about. I felt like I was gearing unconsciously to protect myself and my girl pretty much the entire time we were out there.

It's too bad - Ybor is a cool spot. Sucks that a bunch of punks and thugs have to fuck it up for everyone else.

Speaking of which, are there any other good spots around here? I know of channelside, St Pete docks (whatever it's called) Couple spots on the beach blvd.

[SloDown]

Stick to ChannelSide...

Best crowd..Low security because it doesn't get crazy and 3 clubs all right next to one another.

[Method]

Not to mention Grille 29 for awesome steaks :D

The clubs in there are pretty cool - low key, good music and a pretty chill crowd.

I wouldn't mind touring around Ybor during the day sometime. There's so much history there.