To not understand why someone would let their DC ride pillion on a motorbike?

[FourArms]

We were at an event recently where a dad had brought his DD on a motorbike via a motorway style A road. There was no particular need to do so IMO as the mum came later with their other DD having run an errand en route.

There is no way I would ever let my DC go on a motorbike in anything except a dire emergency. AIBU in thinking that they were irresponsible to let their DD go on the motorbike when it wasn't necessary? She's 5 years old.

I did say jokingly that I'd never let my kids go on a motorbike, but couldn't say much beyond that to them.

Is there anyone on here who lets their DC do this? Is it safer than I realise? I've never been on a motorbike, so have no concept of it, but can't get the image of them letting go and falling off out of my head. :(

I used to ride pillion on my dad's bike at around 4 yrs old - before school, anyway.

Was she wearing all the right protective gear?

DD has been on the back of motorbikes from the age of 8.

Yes, it is a risk but so is riding a horse, travelling in a car, riding a push bike, surfing.

Helmet I believe, but nothing else except summer clothes.

Surely more risky (statistically??) than the other things GOML?

Probably yes more risky statistically than all those except horse riding.

People shove their kids from a very young age on horse, imo they are just as risky as motorbikes.

DD plans to get a moped at 16.

Everything we do carries some sort of statistical risk, and some things are of course more risky than others. Swimming in the sea must be more risky than sitting on a beach but its a bloody sight more fun....

I'm a survivor of childhood pillion riding

My DS goes on the back of his dad's bike. It is is perfectly legal and safe if they are properly kitted up and can put their feet on the foot pegs and have been properly instructed. When my DH only worked four days a week my DS was the coolest kid in school because he came in on the back of the bike.

Now DS2 is the same age as my DS1 when he started riding pillion but he can't put his feet on the pegs and is no where near sensible enough to ride pillion, so it will be a while before DH will let him.

my DS's are 8 and 5.

My ex used to take his daughter (from 4 yo) to school on the back of the bike. She loved it and all the other kids were green with envy.

Perhaps you're confusing protective parental instinct with what happened yesterday to that 19 year old boy. Not all bikers ride the same.

What MrsGokWan said. So long as they are wearing a helmet and feet can reach the footpegs, tis legal. I'd want to be positive mine could balance themselves with the acceleration / braking and could hang on tight enough all the time for emergency stops.

Mine are 3 and 1 so not yet an issue, but when they can (probably about 7 or 8 I guess) we'll let them. Hopefully because mummy and daddy have bikes it won't be cool for them to get a moped at 16 and act like twats. Teach them correctly I say. Mind you, DH is an advanced rider and I trust him so short journeys would seem okay.

It's not so much the fast A roads/ motorways that are the problem, but more junctions and sharp corners. Don't get me going on rider's ability.

I too am a survivor of pillion riding on a motorbike... that is the only mode of transport we had when I was a kid.

ex-p takes ds1 (13) and dd (10) on the back of his motorbike.
i trust him totally with them and he is a super safe experiencd rider.

The kids bloody love it too.

They are totally togged up in gloves, boots, trousers, jackets and helmets.

The problem with people getting too concerned about it being dangerous or dying is that you never get to live before you die of old age.