Baldwin St bin ride blasted

A Sunday morning joyride, which involved a car towing a chilly bin down the world's steepest street, has earned three men a trip to Dunedin District Court later this week.

Police were called to Princes St, near the Octagon, shortly before 8am yesterday, following reports of a car using an electrical extension cord to tow a man in a "big blue chilly bin", Senior Sergeant Craig Brown, of Dunedin, said.

While the group had left the area when the police arrived, the men were later reported to be riding the chilly bin down a part of Baldwin St - the world's steepest street.

"Common sense was definitely lacking. It is a major safety concern," Snr Sgt Brown said.

In 2001, 19-year-old University of Otago student Ana North was killed when she travelled down the street inside a wheelie bin which struck a parked trailer.

Police were able to track down the carload of six occupants at the Dunedin Botanic Garden.

The driver of the vehicle, a 17-year-old Dunedin high school pupil, has been charged with dangerous driving.

A 24-year-old Queenstown labourer, allegedly the chilly-bin joyrider, has been charged with two counts of disorderly behaviour.

A 22-year-old university student has also been charged with disorderly behaviour following an earlier incident involving the group.

The men are alleged to have poured petrol on part of John Wilson Ocean Dr, ignited it and ridden the lid of the chilly bin through the flames shortly after 7am, Snr Sgt Brown said.