Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think it riduculous that parents in my area allow their kids to do this

134 replies

Anenome · 17/09/2010 20:08

I live in the outskirts of a small city...it's a very nice area, lot's of nice people and nice houses. There are 3 schools within less than a mile's radius of my home.

Every morning I walk DD to her school which is 5 mins walk away...my 2 year old DD comes too, either walking or in a buggy.

We are in constant danger from kids as young as 3 and 4 who ride scooters and bikes to the nearby CofE school (we don't go there).

These kids are hurtling ahead of their Mum's or Dads on very narrow paths, the parents are almost never close enough to stop them as they crash towards me or my kids...the parents never apologise or even attempt to slow the kids down...and it is ME who has to dodge THEM! Angry

The road is a very busy main one...often jammed with traffic and to me it looks like an accident waiting to happen.

Should I speak to the CofE school about it? Maybe suggest they mention to parents about safety for pedestrians? Or AIBU?

OP posts:
Original poster
Anenome · 17/09/2010 20:29

lol.

OP posts:
CommanderCool · 17/09/2010 20:29

Sorry should be - allows us to go in foot rather than in car.

Damn you, red wine.

IHeartKingThistle · 17/09/2010 20:32

Blimey, the glee with which people jump on others on here is really sad sometimes.

OP is not a biscuit, she just doesn't want her small children crashed into. However she worded it, that's not actually unreasonable.

At the secondary school where I work, there are frequently letters home and reminders to the children to be careful when cycling and respectful of others on the pavements and the buses. Sometimes these are as a result of complaints, sometimes not.

If my DD accidentally scooted into someone I would apologise to them, how is she going to learn manners if she doesn't see me using them?

HeadFairy · 17/09/2010 20:32

My, it's feisty on here tonight... op, there's not a lot the school can do about it. I'm afraid my ds is one of those offenders to, but he is usually followed at a hasty pace by me bellowing at him to STOOOOOOOP!!!!! :o

missismac · 17/09/2010 20:32

PMSL at OP. Really? You're not joking? I think you need to get some perspective. Road safety? It's little kids on scooters on the path for crying out loud. And, re facial injuries; they don't keep stats on that because it's so rare as to be almost nonexistant. By your criteria just living is an accident waiting to happen.

Honestly, unreasonable doesn't even cover it - pathetic is a word that might. Get your kid scooter or bike, watch their face light up as they use it, see how they get exercise and fun and get some joy in your soul OP. Life has risks attached - get over it.

Lynli · 17/09/2010 20:34

I agree that it is rediculous that parents allow their DCs to do this.

We have the same problem here, young DCs that cannot ride properly hurtling along and crashing into pedestrians and parked cars.

Not sure what you can do about it though.

One lady allowed her two year old to ride her bike well ahead of her. One day a car started reversing out of a drive and couldn't see the LO as she was so low down. Luckily I was near enough to gesticulate to the driver. The Mum was running up the road trying to stop her and thanked me.

I couldn't believe it when she let her do it again the next day.

mittz · 17/09/2010 20:34

My DD cycles and I am very strict about manners..'slow down DD, say excuse me politely'... (she had her bell broken)

So we go out and I don't remember to remind her one time and she goes at full pelt shouting 'coming through! coming through!'

BlushBlush

I agree with what SatyFrosty says though.. a polite word, with the parents, or even a cheery..'hey guys..slow down before you bowl us over' to the children themselves..

nameymcnamechange · 17/09/2010 20:36

What is your point about it being a nice area though?

Are you saying that in nice areas you would never expect children to scoot to school?

What are you going to do when your 2 year old is 5 and wants to scoot to school?

Are you going to disallow it on the offchance that a toddler might be slightly hurt in a freak accident?

lisad123isgoingcrazy · 17/09/2010 20:38

I would love to see this research about lower imcome families having more accidents Hmm
DD1 rides her bike to school on the path, I must remember to make sure she rides on the road way to make sure she doesnt hurt walkers! ]Have you ever tried riding a bike slowly?? more likely to be an accident going slow!

dizzyblonde · 17/09/2010 20:40

Having scraped kids off the road because they swerve in front of cars I would say you are being reasonable to be concerned. It is 'not so rare as to be non existant'but a very real danger.

nannylocal · 17/09/2010 20:42

I know totally what you mean! Despite the problematic wording of the op it is a problem I've encountered. The children I look after go to a primary school that is next door to another primary school (bad planning to begin with!). They are both big primary schools with nursery, infants and juniors so even without scooters, hundreds and hundreds of parents, kids, buggies and dogs all trying to get to school makes for madness! They are also on a busy road. I've witnessed several accidents where little ones on scooters have smashed into other kids coming the other way or have scooted into the road, or even have forced someone else into the road as it's the only place to avoid the scooter hurtling towards you.

harecare · 17/09/2010 20:43

I had thought you were going to be annoyed by people driving to school when they live too close that would wind me up.
Bikes should be on the road, if kids can't handle traffic on the roads they need to know that the pedestrian has right of way on the pavement. Little kids on scooters can go very fast, probably faster than their reactions can handle thanks to modern design. I'm guessing you're more worried about a kid swerving into the road rather than swerving into your heel. If you're really worried about their safety speak to the parents and the school, what harm can it do? It might save an accident.

roxyhouse · 17/09/2010 20:47

lisad123 - I've seen that research cited too, and very recently. More children are run over in disadvantaged areas. (Can't remember how it was phrased, but the statistics were there.) Saw it on the news and in the Guardian.

Original poster
Anenome · 17/09/2010 20:49

Maybe I should have explained that the paths are VERY narrow..this is an old city...there are cars parked an pulling ut ALL along the route. It's not just my kids in danger but the kids on scooters! 4 and 3 is TOO SMALL to be allowed to round a tight corner where people are walking towards them...there are tons of them.

My kids do ride scooters and bikes but not on packed paths next to a busy road in an urban area at 8.40 am!

My goodness...there are people on here who are so rude and presumtious that it beggars belief this site is so popular!

OP posts:
lisad123isgoingcrazy · 17/09/2010 20:50

wondering if its the cul-de-sac research? More children who live in cul-de-sacs and estates are run over as they arent used to cars coming by.

dizzyblonde · 17/09/2010 20:51

Yes, it's not much fun having to put a five year old on a spinal board because the speed they were scooting at was too fast for them to stop.Parent was too far behind to do anything about it and the poor car driver had no chance.

Original poster
Anenome · 17/09/2010 20:52

www.imperial.ac.uk/college.asp?P=3674

here...now go and knock me for being pedantic enough to go off and find it.

A child is THREE times more likely to die in road accident if it lives in a deprived area.

OP posts:
CommanderCool · 17/09/2010 20:58

I do see where you are coming from. My DD's scoot on wide pavements but if the path narrows I tend to grab DD2 who is three and pull them along.

harecare · 17/09/2010 20:58

By the way I grew up in a very safe little country village with little traffic and although we rode our bikes round and around the garden, we weren't allowed on the roads until we had done our cycling proficiency at 11. Super fast micro minis obviously hadn't been invented then.
You are not being over cautious, you are being sensible. The worst that will happen to you and your children is you might get a bit bruised, the worst thing that could happen to the small kids who don't react to a car pulling out is too awful to think about.
Next time you want to do something you feel is right, just do it.

Original poster
Anenome · 17/09/2010 21:01

Nannylocal...this primary school is also massive...it is hudreds when you add up parents and siblings....all of these people saying that the kids won't get hurt...its stupid!

Bikes don't belong on paths...nor do scooters being driven by toddlers.

OP posts:
Rockbird · 17/09/2010 21:03

What was wrong with; AIBU to think that children shouldn't be flying along a narrow footpath into oncoming pedestrians? Parents are miles behind and there is a busy road nearby. Etc etc...

I don't see what the backstory had to do with it tbh. Newbie schmewbie btw.

Rockbird · 17/09/2010 21:03

on scooters, obviously, not suggesting the kids had wings :o

onimolap · 17/09/2010 21:04

Also stats on the Dept of Transport website (analysis of 2007).

I don't think anyone has an issue with wide pavements, but narrow pavements crowded with children are a different matter. A glancing blow to the eye can cause serious damage, and sadly society is not as evolved as one would wish to individuals with facial scarring.

Dismounting on the final approach to the school is just a basic level of consideration to the wider community.

onepieceoflollipop · 17/09/2010 21:11

I would like to say this. I think that my dcs actually attend the Very Same CofE school that you refer to (honestly)

Is the local lollipop man called Barry? (I am not willing to out myself further). Also further up the road there is a rather unusual lollipop man who does a kind of attention seeking twirl?

Anyway, I can assure you the problem is npt the nice CofE children, oh no. GrinIt is the ones from the school at the bottom of the hill. if their parents didn't all park on the zig zags in their landrovers then the dcs might risk riding on the road.

With so many schools in the same area, all of the bikes, cars, buggies etc, the problem is that a few people are rude. Others are preoccupied and don't always notice what their dcs are doing. I suggest you try and keep a calm head on the school run. :)

Mummy2Bookie · 17/09/2010 21:12

YABU
Childhood is about learning to manage risks and thinking for yourself. I think it is a good thing that kids learn this and to learn this they have to be exposed to some danger.
I have always been adamant that dd will not grow up to be one of those pathetic " cotton wool kids" that seem to be allover the uk at present.