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AIBU?

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Original poster

Am I being unreasonable to suggest that scooters should be banned on pavements?

277 replies

Morgause · 07/09/2013 14:36

An hour ago I went up the lane to pay the papers. The pavement isn't particularly wide but not very narrow either. A little girl aged 3 -4 scooted past me quite quickly which made me jump a bit as I hadn't heard her coming. I looked round to see her mother with a buggy quite a way back down the lane. She shouted the little girl's name and told her to wait.

I walked past her and into the shop round the corner and paid the bill. As I came back around the corner the mother had caught up with the little girl and she had begun to scoot on again. Unfortunately she scooted straight into an elderly lady just leaving her gate and they both went flying. I called an ambulance and other neighbours came out to see what could be done to help. It looks like the little girl has broken her arm and the old lady may have broken her hip or her leg - maybe both.

The ambulance man said that scooters are a "bloody nuisance" and if kids aren't falling off them they are ploughing into people on them. He thinks they should be banned anywhere but gardens and parks. The local bobby, also present, agreed.

I think the same after what I saw today. M (the old lady) is the sole carer for her elderly husband who is very disabled following a stroke. Goodness knows what will happen to him now. A neighbour is with him for now and is hoping to contact someone from social services for some emergency care.

OP posts:
TidyDancer · 07/09/2013 15:21

The mum should definitely apologise, but I do understand with her DD how this would've been overlooked. She probably feels terribly guilty now.

Retropear · 07/09/2013 15:23

Yanbu

Scooters are for lazy kids,takes about half the exercise to scoot along.

I agree with the old lazy.If it was between my grandma being scooted into or kid in the road I'd rather it was the latter.

HeySoulSister · 07/09/2013 15:25

yes,scooters cant be promoted as effective 'exercise' surely??

its a bit of movement I guess,but nothing much

BeyondTheLimitsOfAcceptability · 07/09/2013 15:25

I imagine its just a case of it sticking in my head for different reasons, I just didn't think there were quite so many people saying the elderly lady was right for her threat, as there were people saying the Op was wrong for not watching her children.

Here's the thread, if anyone else wanted a nose :)

specialsubject · 07/09/2013 15:25

There should be nothing on pavements with wheels except wheelchairs and things that are pushed. No scooters, no cycles etc.

this may actually end the old lady's life early, broken hips can result in death.

no, I'm not suggesting anyone is prosecuted but mum should feel disgusted with herself for causing this accident by allowing the scooter to be used like this by a small child.

Retropear · 07/09/2013 15:27

Exactly Hey I'd rather they were walking than gliding along and as for these 3 wheelers kids don't even work on their balance.

My 3 have 2 wheelers for park or playing outside only.

Sirzy · 07/09/2013 15:27

Scooting on the pavement isn't the problem, parents not supervising is the problem.

When DS goes on his scooter unless we are in the park he is right next to me. He is too young to understand road safety or stopping for others so it is my responsibility to keep him and other safe.

PumpkinPositive · 07/09/2013 15:28

I think Tempus summed up that thread pretty well!

I don't. Whilst a lot of posters sympathised with the old lady (and others with the OP), I'm struggling to recall many any who endorsed her empty threat re pushing kiddy into the road.

As for scooters, agree in principle they're a bit of a hazard. Needn't be, if all parents were willing to do what a poster upthread suggested in terms of making the kid dismount when walkers approach.

However, you've Buckley's chance of a ban on it. Never heard of any action being taken against pavement cyclists, and they're far more hazardous.

PumpkinPositive · 07/09/2013 15:32

She phoned her husband to come and take them to hospital because M was going to be needing the ambulance. The PC had suggested she get a taxi to hospital, rather than wait for a non-emergency ambulance.

Did the old lady get an ambulance? If so, I wonder if kid's mother will be liable to pay for it since she "caused" the accident.

I seem to remember my mother saying she had to pay for the ambulance for an old lady she "hit" (ie, stepped out in front of her stationary vehicle) back in the 80s.

Retropear · 07/09/2013 15:33

Actually it's the sooting that is the problem as fat lot of good a parent can do when a child builds up a speed and mum is trailing behind a laden buggy.

ziggiestardust · 07/09/2013 15:35

I think this is an isolated incident tbh OP.

It sounds to me like the mother was pretty lax in her parenting tbh; the little girl should not have been scooting that far ahead. Pavements are NOT a playground. Scooting isn't an alternative to walking.

However, the other side of the coin is that scooters aren't suitable for the road either! I was at a T junction in town the other day waiting to turn left (left turn only anyway, as its a 1 way system). From the right, out shot a young teen boy on a scooter; blink and you'd miss him, but he was going at one heck of a speed, downhill as well, and not wearing a helmet or any padding. He could've been seriously hurt.

Sirzy · 07/09/2013 15:36

But that still comes down to the parents. When DS is on his scooter it is when it's just me and him so I can stop him if needed (although it rarely is now he understands). It is up to parents to pick forms of transport whereby they can control all children with them

Retropear · 07/09/2013 15:40

I still think on a hill unless you've got good running shoes there is a huge risk.

sheridand · 07/09/2013 15:41

It's not hard to train your kids to use them sensibly. My two use them to do their 3 mile walk/ scoot/ bike to school. We know the rules: a person coming, go to the inside or outside of the path, and stop till they've gone past. Easy.

On the other hand, child 1 has been mown down by a lady on a mobility scooter who also managed to rip my lower leg to bits on the way past, before passing two crying children and a mum going "Ow!" with nary an apology. Shall we ban them as well?

HeySoulSister · 07/09/2013 15:44

scooters are not suitable for the playground either ziggie!!

TooMuchRain · 07/09/2013 15:46

YANBU they are a pain, and the parents who allow their DCs to scoot ahead are very inconsiderate especially about the elderly and other people who really can't just jump out of the way - though I totally see why they are popular

everlong · 07/09/2013 15:50

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

AnotherWorld · 07/09/2013 15:51

YABU

You just are. Banning scooters? Bonkers.

HeySoulSister · 07/09/2013 15:52

op says to ban them on the pavements not a total ban!!

livinginwonderland · 07/09/2013 15:53

YANBU. They're mostly used by little kids who are liable to scoot ahead/away from their parents and who aren't old enough to see all the dangers around them.

SilverApples · 07/09/2013 15:57

I don't like cycles and scooters on pavements for all the reasons cited, but mostly because the parents don't supervise adequately.
So what's the answer?
Automatic on the spot fine if injury is caused?
Split the pavements and have a cycle/scooter path only for those under 7 ?
More aggressive responses from members of the public so that parents are too frightened to let their child scoot?
What's the solution to having children on wheels ram into you a couple of times a week if you are out and about at certain times?

racmun · 07/09/2013 16:02

My ds loves his scooter and is really fast but because of this i put the lead thing on it and keep him with me when in the pavement down to the park he doesn't like it but tough.

It infuriates me how many parents let their bloody kids tear along on the things literally hanging off the kerb it's an accident waiting to happen.

I think shops should definitely ban them, what is wrong with children learning to walk and to behave properly? Are they going to be 12 and skateboarding everywhere.....

gazzalw · 07/09/2013 16:05

YANBU here too...They are a total pain on pavements particularly on/around school run time (other times on quiet pavements are fine) as there are so many of them. Quite apart from living in fear of having one's ankles shaved, there's the constant 'dancing' around the pavement trying to dodge oncoming ones, the little ones scooting far ahead and being in danger of getting run over by a vehicle reversing out of drive-ways. All in all a recipe for disaster! GRRRRR

I have also noted that the more middle-class the school the more likely there is to be mass scooting and the chaos that ensues when the yummy mummies are busy chatting and the children clog up the walkways for all and sundry with no remonstration.

Bah humbug I say!

Sirzy · 07/09/2013 16:06

Shops shouldn't need to ban them (although many already have) common sense from the parents should say that scooters (or bikes, or heelies) aren't acceptable in a shop.

timidviper · 07/09/2013 16:09

I posted on the other thread about this. Many people do not realise how serious a fracture hip is for older people, it hugely increases their chance of death or serious disability within 2 years. If this elderly lady dies or is permanently unable to care for her DH will the mother feel any responsibility or guilt? Should she?

There was a debate recently about the european insurance thing where in any accident the larger vehicle was liable regardless of fault as a way of making drivers be more aware of cyclists, cyclists more considerate of pedestrians, etc. Maybe that would make parents more aware of potential risks of their children scooting.

I agree with those who say pavements should be for pedestrians only because anything faster moving is a risk. Too many parents now do not look beyond the needs and wants of their children without a thought of others in society.