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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Children on skooters at London Zoo

32 replies

Agggghast · 05/08/2014 19:04

Yesterday I went with my DD2 to the zoo, she is 19! However we really enjoy zoos and have travelled the world to see them. The day was ruined by under 7's on skooters. We saw at least three toddlers nearly knocked over and no parental supervision. The worst case was two boys speeding down an underpass missing a small child by inches. Parents were not in sight. They were about to return the same way and I said not to because there were at least three families walking up. To which the charming 6 year old told me to f**k off. I completely understand there is a lot of walking by why do parents allow children out of sight? Ironically all these well spoken parents seem to feel it is OK. I last went to London Zoo three years ago, it was sad how much worse the behaviour of under 7's has got.

OP posts:
NormHonal · 05/08/2014 19:06

I'm surprised that scooters aren't banned at London Zoo as at many other attractions, such as Legoland.

CruCru · 05/08/2014 19:09

Scooters are definitely allowed at Whipsnade. I'd be more upset at being told to fuck off by a child.

Original poster
Agggghast · 05/08/2014 19:12

I was but to be honest I felt a child whose parents were 15 minutes behind him had his own problems, I did have to virtually gag DD though!

OP posts:
WelshMaenad · 05/08/2014 19:19

Yabu to state that your day was 'ruined'. Unless the under 7s battered all the zoo animals to death with their scooters, it's not really worth more than a raised eyebrow, is it?

TheHorseHasBolted · 05/08/2014 19:21

Not only might they hurt other children, they might hurt themselves, especially on the steep slope of the underpass. I have seen children get hurt that way - the worst was a broken collarbone. It scares me when I see children, even a good bit older than that, taking risks on scooters on the streets. And yes, the swearing was out of order too. I'm not sure what you can do about it but YANBU.

tassisssss · 05/08/2014 19:22

Seriously, are scooters banned at legoland??!!

{I fear my kids may be responsible for this ban}

Original poster
Agggghast · 05/08/2014 19:26

Well it was only ruined because as a responsible parent/ adult I was constantly distracted/ concerned by these children. They are not my responsibility! So if Arthur and Alex's parents are on here YABVVU!

OP posts:
Artandco · 05/08/2014 20:11

I would just leave them. It's annoying but not your responsibility to check the safety of every child in zoo. Scooter parents should watch and other parents should watch children aren't about to be mown down

Andrewofgg · 05/08/2014 20:12

Feed them to the lions . . .

HauntedNoddyCar · 05/08/2014 20:16

I was at a different zoo yesterday where scooters ARE banned.

skylerwhite1 · 05/08/2014 20:17

We went to Dublin Zoo yesterday, the 7yr old insisted on bringing his micro-scooter, after much whining I let him. It was promptly confiscated at the entrance and placed into a secure cage. We were told about their "no scooter" policy and could collect it when we were leaving.

ddubsgirl77 · 05/08/2014 20:21

Ban them anywhere indoors too! Nearly got hit by a kid on one at work at the weekend zooming around asda

Kiffykaffycoffee · 05/08/2014 20:23

YANBU. Scooters shouldn't be allowed in busy, crowded places such as zoos. They are banned from our school playground for safety reasons. I've even seen scooters being ridden around a supermarket, a museum and a sports centre. No way is that appropriate.

zeeboo · 05/08/2014 20:27
  1. it is scooter. Not 'skooter'
  2. 'just missing' is a passive aggressive way of saying "they didn't get hit but I wanted them to be so I could be proved right about the evil of scooters'
  3. The only misdemeanour in your story is the child swearing.

HTH

Wiifitmama · 05/08/2014 20:34

They used to be banned from London zoo. They have changed the rules now but do state that parents must be in control of them. They don't police this though, but it suppose it gives them the authority to take a scooter away (temporarily) if they see it. Heelies are banned at the zoo still.

I do let my youngest take his scooter to the zoo because of the sheer amount of walking involved. But he is never out of control or out of site with it. They are banned at Kew gardens which I understand but again the amount of walking makes it hard.

bruffin · 05/08/2014 20:36

Yanbu
There are some really stupid parents out there who cant see that busy crowded places are not the place for scooters. There were kids trying to scoot through the crowds at the mayors thames festival and i have seen kids on scooters in oxford street. No common sense at all.

kali110 · 05/08/2014 20:57

Yanbu

Original poster
Agggghast · 05/08/2014 22:02

So sorry I used the American spelling for an American toy, sadly consideration and respect are less important. Pedant.

OP posts:
erin99 · 05/08/2014 22:13

Your day was ruined by 3 near misses? No actual collisions, not even a scraped knee? I think you're being dramatic tbh.

I did not know scooters were spelled like that in the USA. Every day's a skool day.

Vintagejazz · 05/08/2014 22:16

Neessary zeeboo?

Vintagejazz · 05/08/2014 22:17

Oh and YANBU OP.

alleypalley · 05/08/2014 22:56

YABU, we have an annual pass to London zoo so go quite often. It's never been a problem with dd taking her scooter. But then we are responsible parents and don't take it on days that are going to be especially busy, or let her on it in the indoor exhibits, and I would never let her go down the underpass on it, not least because I don't want her to put herself at that much risk.

The problem is parents that let their dc run wild and get away with treating people so rudely, wether they be on wheels or on foot.

FreudiansSlipper · 05/08/2014 23:09

yanbu

scooters are not needed everywhere what is wrong with walking around a zoo. of course if children are constantly scooting around they will not want to walk much

AcrossthePond55 · 06/08/2014 00:36

American here…..it's 'scooter' not 'skooter'.

Carry on!

SweetSummerSweetPea · 06/08/2014 02:57

can I ask that you actually write to the zoo to complain, were it may do some good.

i generally always come down on side of children, moaning that we are un child freindly in this country but the children on scooters are a nightmare.

Its utterly hideous. please write to zoo and complain.

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