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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think kids on bikes on pavements need to be considerate toward pedestrians

48 replies

Wotsitsareafterme · 24/03/2015 18:45

I'm not sure where the Highway Code stands about minors on bikes. I don't object in principle but the school run is getting a bit stressful.
The main road to school has pavements both sides but both are fairly narrow. I walk dd1 to school with dd2 who is 2 who isn't in a buggy etc. I'm getting very fed up of being forced out of the way by older kids on bikes. I don't see how them being faster than me and a toddler gives them right of way above us. I also don't see how coming up
So close behind me the wheels touch me is acceptable either - there is nowhere for me to go to let them pass except the road!

OP posts:
GuybrushThreepwoodMightyPirate · 24/03/2015 18:48

Yanbu! Are the children in question riding to school alone or are their parents trailing behind and ignoring the poor behaviour?

cariadlet · 24/03/2015 18:54

I think little kids should only really be on bikes in parks or on pretty empty pavements. I'm lucky enough to live on the coast, and the prom is perfect for them - flat, straight and very, very long.

Older kids should either be riding on the road if it is safe or should be getting off their bikes and pushing if the roads are dangerous and the pavements are crowded.

Original poster
Wotsitsareafterme · 24/03/2015 18:55

The latter. I might have slightly kicked off about it this morning and said to a kid something like 'you are forcing me out of the way cheers thanks a lot' the mum just gave me daggers Hmm

OP posts:
Original poster
Wotsitsareafterme · 24/03/2015 18:56

Thanks cariadlet I did privately think that but wondered if the law/Highway Code permits the kids to use the pavements wasn't sure

OP posts:
Sirzy · 24/03/2015 18:57

Yanbu. It a child needs to ride on the pavement they should be close to the parents at all time and should be considerate of others on the pavements.

flora717 · 24/03/2015 18:59

If they're too young to be trusted / responsible on the roads they should be supervised on pavements too. That supervisiin could easily be "wait until blah road" before cycling. Have you complained to school. I know it's a pita to be doing it. But the school could shove a reminder to respect other pedestrians into a newsletter?

Original poster
Wotsitsareafterme · 24/03/2015 19:01

I'm gauging opinion here before I contact the school Grin

OP posts:
Love51 · 24/03/2015 19:02

I think there is a law based on wheel diameter. Not based on age of child. Although manners should be exercised without legal duress!

Sirzy · 24/03/2015 19:03

Highway Code doesn't specify anything other than bikes shouldn't be on pavements. In the eyes of the Highway Code age doesn't come into it

Original poster
Wotsitsareafterme · 24/03/2015 19:06

The school is really pro cycling and has all the racks but there isn't a cycle path or a safe route to the school without going on pavements.

OP posts:
321Go · 24/03/2015 19:08

This drives me mad. Even more so when they are followed by parents on bikes on the pavement. I deliberately don't move to let them pass and told a parent exactly what I thought when her out of control 5 yr old nearly ploughed us down.
I remember a parent telling she wasnt confident enough to ride on the road. Erm but okay to ride on a narrower pavement?
Mine ride on the road (age 5 7 and 10) wheel bikes on pavement and I'm proud to have taught them that.
I feel your pain!!!!!

321Go · 24/03/2015 19:09

Oh and I complained to school when in eco week the kids got more points for cycling than walking but were mostly breaking the law in order to do so.
Didn't get very far. They just said up to parents.

JeanneDeMontbaston · 24/03/2015 19:10

Yes, I think they should be considerate. And I don't feel the same way towards kids on bikes as I do towards adults - I thought it was at the discretion of police whether they're allowed or not, but I'm sure sirzy is right as I've not checked.

But, for the love of god, if you will take kids biking on pavements would you teach them it's not a permanent thing?! I say this as when my boyfriend was 17, he informed me righteously that his mother had always expected him to ride on the pavement, and he dragged me over to her expecting her to confirm the need for her dear firstborn's safety.

She and I took one look at each other and burst out laughing. He was well over 6 foot at the time.

Bless him.

GoogleyEyes · 24/03/2015 19:18

Hmm, I don't think children whizzing along bashing into pedestrians is ok. But I would much rather that they cycled rather than were driven a short distance, and the price you pay for that is busy pavements.

So I think that it depends entirely on the behaviour - a polite excuse me, can I get past would be fine, and you should tuck in to the side (plus toddler). Bashing you with their wheels is definitely not ok, of course.

I struggle with the 'kids should only ride scooters or bikes in the park / on the prom' idea. It's a method of transport, not purely a toy to play with.

It is entirely possible for a child to be old enough to ride politely and safely on the pavement, while not having the road sense to be safe on a road with cars etc.

Original poster
Wotsitsareafterme · 24/03/2015 19:44

321 - I agree Grin

OP posts:
Original poster
Wotsitsareafterme · 24/03/2015 19:47

Googley - if they had said excuse me it would have been nice but there's no where for me to go! If I put dd2 back in the buggy which I will have to if this carries on then I will have to put the buggy in the road for them to pass. I don't see why they think they have right of way over me - they don't they just want to go faster which isn't my problem!

OP posts:
nochocolateforlentteacake · 24/03/2015 19:49

Scooters, grrrrrrrr. They bloody hurt when they hit you and an elderly relative had her wrist broken when a mini bullet on a scooter knocked her down. Mummy was too busy pushing a pram and fiddling with her phone.

pinningwobble · 24/03/2015 19:51

Oh Christ, I feel your pain. YANBU. I live right next to a primary school and the pavement is full of children on bikes and scooters, running into you.

The thing is that almost all of them live max ten minutes walk from school. Mostly half that.

Original poster
Wotsitsareafterme · 24/03/2015 19:58

Pinning I live about 8 minutes walk from school and only because I'm dragging a toddler. These kids on bikes joined the pavement after me - I did wonder what the point of them cycling was in the first place but I wondered if that was beside the point. I've bollocked kids on scooters in the past too....

OP posts:
HearTheThunderRoar · 24/03/2015 20:00

YANBU! I know here in NZ it's illegal to ride on the footpath with a bike unless the diameter is less than 33.5cm but we have a lot cycles paths in the cities and in the towns there are often long strips of grass near the footpath.

pinningwobble · 24/03/2015 20:03

Wotsits I am not a very tolerant person naturally (get yelled at a lot in here for it!) so I am trying to give people the benefit of the doubt at the moment, but I do get irritated when I get my ankles bashed by kids who could walk to school in the same amount of time it takes them to cycle...

TheFairyCaravan · 24/03/2015 20:04

YANBU at all OP.

I bloody hate bikes and scooters on the pavement. The children on them are all too often way ahead of their parents, who are usually sauntering along, heads in the clouds not giving a toss that their little darling has just almost sent a disabled person or a toddler flying in to the middle of next week!

There was a thread on here a year, or so ago, where an old lady was hospitalised with a broken hip after being knocked over by a child on a scooter. Bloody dangerous things they are!

Original poster
Wotsitsareafterme · 24/03/2015 20:15

Thank you everyone I feel less like a mardy cow now Grin I just think I should be able to stay on the pavent come what may with a toddler! I wouldn't ask a wheelchair user or an older person to move in to the road simply because I am able to walk faster than them!

OP posts:
msgrinch · 24/03/2015 20:19

Kids on scooters plague my life. I refuse to let ds take his to school. Someone's little darling went straight into my ankle with one. lovely

Goldenbear · 24/03/2015 20:44

On a whole I think YABU to expect young children to either not use bicycles or to only use them on the road. If we're indeed facing an obesity problem with this generation of young people, then discouraging exercise that is fun, is not a good idea.

Our walk to school is 1.8 miles, nearly 2 for my DD's preschool which my 3 year old goes on to after we've dropped my 7 year old DS. The total journey to my DD's preschool is 1 hour with her using a scooter, there's no way we could walk at a 3 year old's pace as it would take more like 2! IME it is only the very fortunate that live 2- 5 minute walk from school. Even if they do it is their choice- they shouldn't be harming you, obviously but equally there is no way it is safe enough in England for children to ride bikes on the road. I think it is reckless to do so as children below the age of 10 are not considered to have the judgment or capability to safely cross roads let alone be on one!