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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Cycling on pavements

90 replies

mrseffington · 07/08/2012 01:13

AIBU?
I know that you're not supposed to cycle on pavements. DD (8) is a timid thing at best but desperate to spread her wings somewhat. She's a good competent cyclist but I don't think ready to go on roads without me.

We live in a crescent, lots of bungalows, elderly residents, the crescent goes nowhere - if I was to sit in my sitting room and watch for a whole day I might see 2 people walk by.

DD has been begging me to cycle on her own - she doesn't want my supervision, she wants to cycle 'round the block' ENDLESSLY. I've told her yes, on the pavements. She's been happily doing this for a couple of weeks and is thrilled with herself.

Tonight she had a friend over for a sleepover and friend's mum brought a bike. The two of them spent over an hour having a ball going round and round and round and round. They are not loud, they are not fast, no signs of hell raising at all. At one point went out to check on them and they were in the road (cars, mostly driven by our elderly neighbours come hurtling round the crescent, usually in the middle of the road) and I gave them hell....

Next thing, DD is in here in tears saying that a woman took hold of her handlbars and directed her into the road saying 'THIS is where we cycle'. I went out and found said woman who was still huffing and puffing about the young generation thinking they rule the world and are so RUDE and entitled... My DD is all sorts of things, no rose tinted specs here but there is NO WAY on earth she would be rude to a total stranger, particularly an adult. I had a word with her, nicely, and said that I had given permission for her to ride on the pavement as I don't trust drivers on teh road and she is just gaining confidence on her bike. She smiled and nodded and said 'of course, she looks older than she is, sorry about that...' 30 mins later community police woman is at the door - she's doing what she's been asked to do but basically leaves saying it's fine that DD is on pavements.

Was I then being unreasonable to being slightly fishwifey on my visiit to our neighbour whilst informing her that my daughter was going to continue to cycle on our pavements/

OP posts:
sancerreity · 07/08/2012 23:39

It's a no brainer-she isn't safe on the road, and pedestrians aren't safe with cyclists on the footpath . The solution is that you supervise her riding on the road until you feel she is competent to do it alone.

lizziebach · 07/08/2012 23:44

YANBU as a pedestrian in an area where a lot of cyclists use the pavement or the pavement and the road I find it frustrating that I have been nearly knocked over a few times by adult cyclists. But if I saw a child of that age cycling on the pavement I would think it perfectly reasonable and not complain. I think the lady was being unreasonable, after all 50 is hardly an old age pensioner and she was capable of moving the child onto the road which was frankly irresponsible in my opinion - where would she have been if your child was knocked over? And just as a note not all old aged pensioners are as blameless as you might think. My grandmother used to walk on the road instead of the pavement and cross roads without looking. Her excuse was she lived in the area so other people should get out of her way! She's not the only OAP who has said this too me so some accidents might not be the cyclists fault... Get on your bike woith your child tomorrow and then you can be certain they aren't bothering anyone and give yourself a pat on the back for encouraging your child to exercise!

CouthyMow · 08/08/2012 00:14

I as an adult HAVE to cycle on the path if I cycle at all. It is unsafe for me to cycle in the road. Why? Well, if someone with epilepsy is not allowed to drive on the road, think of the possible consequences of cycling on a road...

If I had a seizure while riding a bike on the path, the most that could happen is that I fall off the bike and mildly injure myself. If I had a seizure while riding a bike on the road, I could be run over and killed.

I would like to see that woman call the Community Police Officer on me, I'd do more that go fishwifey at her, I'd be downright RAGEY at her!

CouthyMow · 08/08/2012 00:20

How would I supervise my DC's riding in the road? Until I am CERTAIN that my DC's are safe riding on the road, they will be riding on the pavement.

However, they will have been taught that IMO, pedestrians have all the rights, and they should be respectful of that. They know to ring their bells when coming up behind someone, to watch out for people and wait for them to pass, to always ride with due care and attention.

However, currently, the only one of my DC's safe to ride on the road is 14yo DD. 10yo DS1 failed his bikeability training. And 8yo DS2 cannot ride properly yet due to his physical disabilities.

So they WILL be riding their bikes on the pavement for now.

WelshMaenad · 08/08/2012 00:44

The idea that as you fall off your bike you could fall into/onto a person or small child, possibly knocking THEM into the road to be squidhed by passing cars whilst you enjoy the relative safety of the pavement - that never occur to you couthy?

If you aren't safe to ride s bike where it's legally supposed to be ridden, you aren't safe to ride a bike. Shock horror, other people's safety matters also...

sancerreity · 08/08/2012 00:50

Couthymow-You ride on the outside of them on the road til you think they are safe on their own.

sancerreity · 08/08/2012 00:55

Just read about your epilepsy -. You don't want to have a seizure on the road and a car knock you down , but it's ok for you to have a seizure on the pavement and knock a pedestrian down?

Also bear in mind your DD is cycling (illegally) on the pavements purely for recreation.These elderly people she is scaring are on the pavement out of necessity.

MakeItALarge · 08/08/2012 00:55

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

CouthyMow · 08/08/2012 10:09

I understand about the possibility of knocking over a pedestrian, but I can't always afford the bus, and it might be too far to walk!

I ride VERY carefully on pavements, and stop whenever there are pedestrians near, to minimise risk to them. It's all I can do.

My DD doesn't ride on the pavement - she is safe on the road. My DS1 only takes his bike when we are riding somewhere too far to walk, and is with me, and abides by my rules about stopping when pedestrians are near. If he wants to ride for fun, I take him to the park. And DS2 can't ride yet.

Don't think that I am reckless when I ride on the pavement, I'm not. I just CAN'T ride on the road, and can't always afford public transport!

honeytea · 08/08/2012 10:11

I agree that if you are not safe to ride on the road for your own safety you shouldn't put other people at risk cycling on the pavements. If you can't afford the bus stay in!

CouthyMow · 08/08/2012 10:11

Sancerrity - if I have stopped to let pedestrians pass, how am I risking knocking them in the road?

I am just as likely to knock a fellow pedestrian in the road by having a seizure when I am walking as I am when sitting on a stationary bike!!

Does that mean I shouldn't walk either?!

CouthyMow · 08/08/2012 10:13

Honey tea, so if you need to get your DC to school 2.9 miles away, and you have run out of money for the bus (which costs £46 a week incidentally, and I am on Income Support and have currently not got any disability benefits), do you propose I keep my DC's at home and not take them to school?

honeytea · 08/08/2012 10:14

But what if you have a seizure and the bike and you goes into the road at high speed and a car crashes trying to stop?

CouthyMow · 08/08/2012 10:14

Or if you need to get to the shop for milk, have the money for the milk, but not the £7 bus fare, would you STILL stay in?

CouthyMow · 08/08/2012 10:15

That doesn't happen - you fall rather than carry on riding, a bike doesn't stay upright if the person is unable to balance themselves.

SaggyOldClothCatPuss · 08/08/2012 10:16

I told DS to ride on the pavement. Our village is full of tits in cars!
However, he was under strict instructions, that if he met anyone walking on the pavement, he was to stop, and either get off, or wait until they had passed before pedalling again.

honeytea · 08/08/2012 10:17

Don't you get transport paid for to send your child to school an unwalkable distance? Or is that considered walkable?

CouthyMow · 08/08/2012 10:18

I have had a seizure while CROSSING a road before, while walking. I nearly lost my life because cars were trying to drive OVER me. Literally. It was only the actions of a quick thinking passer-by that saved me.

It's shit having epilepsy, but I'm not going to lock myself away on the 'offchance' that I might injure someone else when I have a seizure, or I'd never go ANYWHERE.

CouthyMow · 08/08/2012 10:20

It's considered walk able as my DC's are junior age. With a DC who is physically disabled. Hmm

I love my LA. not.

(My DS2 has hyper mobility syndrome, hypotonia, plantar fasciitis in both feet AND chronic asthma. Yet he is expected to walk 5.8 miles a day. Hahahahahahaha.

JumpingThroughHoops · 08/08/2012 10:21

I'm not understanding this paying for a bus thing. Doesnt the rest of the country have oyster card equivalents and school children go free?

If not, why not? That would be an excellent MN campaign.

SaggyOldClothCatPuss · 08/08/2012 10:21

"if you can't afford the bus, stay in"
Nice. What about someone on a mobility scooter, or in a wheelchair? They aren't perambulating, should they stay at home too, just so they don't get in able bodied peoples way? Or should they get in the road? Hmm

thecatsminion · 08/08/2012 10:22

I get annoyed at adult cycling on the pavements (including one tosser who started ringing his bell at me when I was out pushing the pram, like he had more right to be there than the baby and I did).

But telling off a child for cycling on the pavements is a bit off, particularly if they're learning. I can't believe she called the police.

janey68 · 08/08/2012 10:22

Surely either the distance to school is considered walkable, or they are entitled to free transport. And aren't you eligible for a free bus pass if you are unable to drive on medical grounds

JumpingThroughHoops · 08/08/2012 10:22

And I'm not understanding that a child with such difficulty walking isn't picked up by the LA bus and taken to school, or taxis used.

I've just never heard of such dreadful differences between LAs.

honeytea · 08/08/2012 10:25

My biggest fear is hurting someone else. I am dyslexic and i dont drive because my understanding of left and right is not good.

It must be horrid to have epilepsy and the people who treated you so badly when you had a fit on the road were nasty people. But if i was in that situation I would still want to make sure there was as little chance as possible of hurting someone else.