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

[Wotsitsareafterme]

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!

Oh god goldenbear I don't want any of the kids in the road!! I just don't like this expectation they have right of way because they are on bikes - that' my gripe

Years ago, about 20 seeing as it happened before ds1 was born, I was walking to work.

As I turned a corner a man on a bike crashed straight into me and I mounted his handle bars then fell off backwards. Luckily he wasn't going too fast as I would have been toast otherwise. He helped me up, apologised and I carried on into work, being British I was very stoic and didn't mention it to anyone despite being in some shock.

The bruising between my thighs was horrific, not to mention the pain and I still think of that day when I see kids/men zooming along on pavements.

Equally, The Big Peddle has just occurred this month - it is a positive thing to many and means fewer people are polluting this world. Of course it is great that your toddler walks to school but a lot of people find this an irritation too as they are often slow and darty in their movements. People are perhaps being facilitative and patient with your scenario - surely it works both ways?

My Dd often scoots next to me or at my pace, so IMO it's like saying her 'being' is inconsiderate or having a pushchair is inconvenient - in other words they're just part of living along side others that don't make the same choices as you.

Goldenbear I think it's fine for them to be there, obviously, just they're so unvelievably unaware. I mean, you expect kids to be unaware, but I do expect parents to have some concept/consideration towards others trying to use the pavement at the same time.

It's all just about a little bit of consideration for others, and works both ways of course.

YANBU.

Kids cycling considerately on the footway is fine. Kids hurtling around 'unaware' isn't - it's not safe for pedestrians or for themselves. Apart from the possibility they'll collide with a person/buggy and fall (possibly into the road), they may not pay attention to other risks such as cars reversing out of driveways. They either need to be responsible enough to ride safely for themselves and others, or be closely supervised.

Goldenbear I get what you are saying but surely part of being considerate is identifying who is the most vulnerable and this morning dd2 was. Dd2 walks holding my hand. I don't see why I have to go in the road with her so they can pass. I haven't suggested they go in the road either - they need to slow down and wait for the path to widen before they pass. Some kids manage this!

They should absolutely not be bashing your ankles- I agree, I was aiming my 'road' comments at someone who was proud of their children being able to ride on roads. I think young children should not be on uk roads.

To be honest I find the school run incredibly stressful, my DS goes to a big primary school with the most narrow access path to the classrooms that you enter via the playing fields- it is a nightmare. The most irritating people in my personal survey are those with adult bikes blocking access to the school gate as they wave goodbye to their children, those with the dogs who seem to do the same and the gathering of Running mums that have a group run and so tend to wait for each other chatting right in the way of the gate again!

I don't mind kids on bikes on pavements. However, if they come across a pedestrian, then they get off their bikes and walk past the pedestrians.That's what I taught my boys.

I get quite cross with inconsiderate kids on bikes and only a few weeks ago, didn't move out of the way of some kids on bikes in a park. It's a bug-bear of mine. (I won't move for scooters either!)

(I'm not anti-bike - my parents cycled everywhere and didn't have cars).

Yes good point- if others manage it they should just wait. I thought you meant cycling per se.

YANBU

We have the same problem on the school run, lots of very young out of control kids on bikes. They haven't been taught that pedestrians have right of way and they just expect everyone to get out of the way for them.

There is a much quieter road behind the main road where kids could actually cycle on the road with supervision or they could cycle along the prom to school. This is what we do when we cycle to school and I have mentioned it to a few people and been ignored If my DD does cycle on the pavement she has to dismount and push her bike when passing people.

What's wrong with cycling in a park? I've never known a scenario where anyone has to move out of the way for my DC on their scooters - in the park they would just go around them. Our school run is mostly very wide pavements though - we go past a secondary school where most of the traffic is due to teenagers being dropped right outside the door- most of whom are slightly overweight.

I am more than happy for slow, and considerate bike users under 10 to use pavements.

What I dont like is children peddling ten to the dozen, miles away from parents, zooming along with control or care, so I have to DIVE with my SLOW AND DARTY toddler off the pavement and into the road to avoid, said child.

Bikes and scooters. I have held off getting DD a scooter until I can be sure she will use it with consideration. IF she goes fast near the elderly or anyone on a pavement, the privilege WILL be withdrawn.

I don't want anyone injured on my conscious.

There are tons of parents that let their children ride bikes and scooters in that way in my area- in fact I find it incredibly difficult to be the odd one out as I don't want my 3 year old way ahead of me anyway, luckily my 7 year old is very considerate and would never expect someone to jump out of his way.

truth be told I wish parents could be held resposnable for accidents caused by children riding scooters / bikes on the pavement because at the moment if a child on a bike / scooter injuries you there is no come back for you

I would imagine parents would be so much more watchful/observiant of their childern on there things if they could be held accountable for any finacial loss caused by their children injurying someone. As one of my work collegues was knocked over by a 10 year old on a bike going full speed on a pavement which ended up with her being in hopital for nearly 2 weeks with mutiply broken bones and was off work for nearly 4 months and when she tried to employ a solictor to get loss of earning from the parents was told she would not get anything as the parents wernt the ones that caused the accident and you cannot sue a minor

its the same as legally if a child break a window with a football morally the parents (or gaurdians) should pay for the repairs (or atleast pay the excess for the insurnce claim) but they do not have a legal obligation to repair the damage caused by their offspring

Worrid - God that poor person though that makes me much more panicky about all this. I was offended by their rudeness this am - I wasn't factoring in the risk of harm to the dds and I

Pretty sure all bikes are illegal on pavements

According to Gov.uk:

You MUST NOT cycle on a pavement.
Laws HA 1835 sect 72 & R(S)A 1984, sect 129

sorry for poor spelling but children over the age of 7 can really build up speed and the bikes are big enough to cause serious damage to people (not just to young children and the eldierly) And I am sorry but childern obsity rates may be really high but like Lomega has just linked its in fact against the law to cycle on the pavemnt (not that i think we should criminalize children just a change in the law that would make the parents liable for any injry their children cause)

Work with obese/overweight children. Exercise does have big a part to play in combatting obesity but diet is by far the bigger offender.

lomega - yes, bikes are illegal on pavements but the police use discretion when it comes to children. They don't want kids too young to have done a cycling proficiency test to be on the road.

Iomega- thanks for posting the law. At least I have something if I get into a row with that mother in the future. Again thank you for all the replies I feel a bit empowered :-)

wotsit - children under 10 can't be prosecuted, and those under 16 aren't subject to the fines that can be imposed on adult pavement cyclists. So quoting the law probably wouldn't be very helpful. This story demonstrates some of the confusion relating to the law versus the safety of children on bikes.