District warns of teens performing dangerous bike stunts in traffic

The Connetquot School District is warning parents about a growing number of teenagers performing dangerous bicycle stunts on busy roads.
Cellphone video shows what officials say is a dangerous trend: Teens on bikes swerving around vehicles on main roads or playing “chicken” with oncoming traffic.
The Connetquot warning comes after a student was injured while riding. Police say a driver on Montauk Highway in Oakdale collided with a 15-year-old who rode his bike into traffic.
Connetquot High School junior Dustin Ruiz says he is friends with the 15-year-old involved in yesterday's crash. He says that while he knows teens are engaging in this kind of behavior, he doesn't believe his friend was one of them.
A letter posted on the district’s website informs parents of yesterday’s crash. Officials say teens are using social media and texts to organize and get together before hitting the streets for these types of stunts.

The letter goes on to say, "The district strongly encourages all families to have conversations with their children about peer pressure, the importance of bike safety and the detrimental effects this type of reckless behavior can have not only on the child's life but on the lives of others."