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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To think it wasn't my fault someone's kids fell off their microscooters?!

42 replies

PrincessOrElsa · 17/02/2015 18:25

Our local park has two lanes: one normal and one cycle (though even on the cycle lane, there's a sign saying cycles are meant to make way for pedestrians).

At home time, the the normal lane is always full of groups of secondary school kids walking about 10 abreast. Which doesn't bother me - to make my way round them with my pram, I just move in and out of the 'cycle' lane.

Then suddenly two kids on microscooters came careering down the hill in the cycle lane, and ended up in the bushes when they tried to get around me without stopping.

Their Dad came storming towards me, shouting "because you were in the cycle lane, my kids have just had an accident". After he went past, I swore under my breath briefly, thinking no one could see, but it turned out his wife walking along behind him separately. Then she started shouting "You've just injured my kids love, but whatever!"

I didn't say anything as am not used to being shouted at like that. AIBU to think it's still a path and kids need to take care?! I think as I have a new baby and it's my first time pushing a pram around, I feel a bit sensitive and am making too big a deal!

OP posts:

Ifyourawizardwhydouwearglasses · 17/02/2015 18:27

Pffft. If kids go about on wheels, odds are they'll fall off. People need to get a grip and move on, shit happens. YANBU.

KingJoffreyObviouslyWatchesHol · 17/02/2015 18:29

Nah. Kids fall off things.

Is what they do. Clumsy buggers. DS spent a good few years covered in bruises.

grannytomine · 17/02/2015 18:29

Don't take it personally they were just upset. You should have seen me when one of my kids got hit by a car. I am so glad no one had a video camera with them, my madness would have gone viral on youtube or whatever its called.

Accidents happen probably not ideal you were on cycle path but then they weren't on cycles and anyway it would have been a couple of cyclists coming towards them alot faster than you were going.

Yambabe · 17/02/2015 18:29

Neither you nor the kids were cycling.

It wasn't your fault, or theirs, it was just an accident.

I wonder if they would have been so stoppy if their kids had crashed into you?

Yambabe · 17/02/2015 18:30

*stroppy

grannytomine · 17/02/2015 18:30

Sorry could not would.

MisForMumNotMaid · 17/02/2015 18:31

They were out of order for being abusive to you. As yours gets older and is equally as unpredictable as theirs were on scooters and bikes you might find you have more empathy for them though.

They were the eyes and ears and should have been shouting/ giving direction. Their emotional response is probably partially guilt that they let their kids down.

Kids fall off, everything. Thats all part of the learning process.

AwfulBeryl · 17/02/2015 18:33

Well technically they shouldn't have been in cycle lane either .
I think (from what you have said ) that they had an accident because they were going too fast, not because of you. Don't read too much in to it, some parents over react about things like that, and have to point a finger of blame at anyone other than themselves or their dc. It's probablyjust one of those things.
Don't give it too much more thought.
aibu is very extra at the moment though, so do be prepared to be flamed for being entitled, breaking the law, traumatising the scooter riders and using a poor baby as an excuse for your God damn mistake
Take it with a pinch of salt.

BathtimeFunkster · 17/02/2015 18:34

It was their own fault.

I would be really cross with my children if they scooted at a woman pushing a pram.

Their parents need to teach them better how to share space with other road users.

TipseyTorvey · 17/02/2015 18:34

yanbu - don't dwell on it too much though. They were rude, but probably due to stress as they thought their kids were hurt but it wasn't your fault.

AwfulBeryl · 17/02/2015 18:35

Ooooooh sensible responses so far.

lem73 · 17/02/2015 18:35

You poor thing. Personally I find a lot of people completely thoughtless about the way their kids behave with scooters. From the way you have described it, the accident was caused by them careering down the hill and attempting to swerve round you rather than slowing down or stopping. YANBU. Kids need to be taught to take care of themselves and others.

HowCanIMissYouIfYouWontGoAway · 17/02/2015 18:36

They went into the bushes? Ouch. Were they ok?
Yes they should have been looking but that's children for you. They dont think like adults and that's why they need parents to take care of them.
Id have stopped, made sure they were ok but been very clear to the parents what the signs say

tomandizzymum · 17/02/2015 18:38

YANBU when you buy kids scooters, they need daily reminders to slow down near pedestrians, it's tedious and I always felt like a broken record, but that's what parent hood is about. Also, yes they will fall off. What if they'd hit you or the baby? It's plain dangerous and they need to teach their kids basic safety.

Transporter · 17/02/2015 18:45

I think it may be a bit your fault for not looking and being in the cycle lane and a bit their fault for not being in control. I'd forget about it if I were you. The parents sound like gobshites and you mustn't care what gobshites say. It's never nice to be shouted at though.

I think they should be in the cycle lane rather than the non cycle lane but I don't really know

Original poster

PrincessOrElsa · 17/02/2015 18:55

Thanks all - I think I will try not take it so seriously, as it was probs the heat of moment. Plus be super alert when in the cycle path!

OP posts:

Andro · 17/02/2015 18:58

Is it clearly signed that even in the cycle lane, pedestrians take priority? If so then yanbu to have used the cycle path and the children (and parents) needed to be more aware...what on earth were they doing going so fast that they couldn't stop or manoeuvre safely?

PtolemysNeedle · 17/02/2015 19:03

It was an accident and just one of those things, but I'd hope you'd show some concern for children who'd hurt themselves because you were where you were, whether rightly or wrongly.

kitchentableagain · 17/02/2015 19:06

As a first time mum with a still new baby they nearly scooted into I'm very impressed you only swore under your breath. In a similar incident I'm afraid i shouted "what did you fucking say!?" at a parent who's kid had (i felt) threatened my baby. It went downhill from there.

In the future you must however remember this incident and think kindly of the person that collides with your LO in similar circumstances.

70isaLimitNotaTarget · 17/02/2015 19:08

There aren't many places children can safely use scooters (pavements aren't ideal really) and they are just children.
YY they shouldn't be going at such a speed that they can't stop.
Parents were probably shocked (and hopefully now a bit ashamed at being so mouthy)

YouTheCat · 17/02/2015 19:10

They should be thankful you weren't a cyclist using that lane.

It's about a bit of common sense and a bit of courtesy.

oneowlgirl · 17/02/2015 19:12

I'm going against the flow here but I do think it was your fault for being in the cycle lane. When your PFB is older & you realise that there aren't many places that they can generally scoot unhindered, then I think you'll realise how they felt today.

No need for them to be rude & it does sound like they were going too fast, but I still think you're in the wrong.

CupidStuntSurvivor · 17/02/2015 19:13

If it comes down to which of you had more right to be in the cycle lane, I'd imagine the wheels on your pram are bigger than the wheels on their scooters? .

Their parents sound stressed out. They shouldn't have shouted at you but we're all twats occasionally.

Viviennemary · 17/02/2015 19:16

I don't think you should have been in the cycle lane. But really the ones to blame are the schoolkids walking ten abreast on the footpath. Lots of people shout when their children have an accident. It's just the stress of the moment. Don't take it personally.

redskybynight · 17/02/2015 19:19

It's my experience that parents of DC on scooters think they own the path and there is no need to supervise their little darlings. I am in collisions or near collisions with scooters on a weekly basis because I have the audacity to walk/cycle home from school along a public footpath/cyclepath whilst keeping to the side to allow plenty of room for others to go past. as I'm the adult it is apparently my job to just get out of the way of scooters. (yes I've had that shouted at me more than once).

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