Students spat on and cursed at on Troelstralaan

Students cycling from the city centre through Troelstralaan to reach the Tuindorp-West Complex or Overvecht are regularly faced with residents of the area who bother them on scooters and fat bikes. Local newspaper AD Utrechts Nieuwsblad quotes a student living in the Tuindorp-West complex who says that he was spat in the face by two boys on a passing scooter. He posted about it in the WhatsApp group of the complex and found out that many other students had gone through the same thing. A woman told him that she was cornered and verbally abused by two girls on fat bikes. The girls, who are estimated to be 14 years old, gave up when they realised the student would just ignore them.

The issue was discussed during a Q&A in the municipal council. Mayor Sharon Dijksma indicated that she is aware of such incidents, saying that she had already received reports of intimidating behaviour. According to Dijksma, the municipality asked the police, the special investigation services and youth workers in the area to carry out additional surveillance and investigate if anything else is going on in Staatsliedenbuurt. The municipality has also been in touch with victims who have come forward.