Aibu to think this was pretty dangerous and a little irresponsible?

[Slugsandsnails2014]

Fully prepared to be corrected and told I'm BU, however I'm very intrigued to hear opinions

Yesterday I saw a woman cycling and when she stopped to get off the bike I noticed that she had a baby in a sling strapped to her front. It struck me that this seemed like a rather risky activity?! For context I should add that the baby was clearly very very tiny-couple of weeks max judging by the size and was in one of those stretchy wraps, the area she was cycling in is one that even a confident cyclist might get a little nervous about-a very busy roundabout in central London so it's not like she was in a park or pedestrianised area.

I suppose I wondered if she was trying to make a point because I couldn't think of a reason why you would want to cycle with a little baby strapped to you when there are other less dangerous options available. Perhaps she was in a hurry to get somewhere so decided not to walk and couldn't afford the bus etc? I'm not sure. Anyway, aibu to think this is dangerous?! Is this a thing that cyclists with babies do?

We all have our limits with parenting...our personal boundaries. Some people think it's fine to drink whilst pregnant...others won't take that risk. A confident cyclist might decide that one journey is ok....I refuse to judge other Mothers when they're just trying to do their best. We get enough judgement in the media and in life in general without threads like this.

Sounds too risky for me. You adapt when you have kids though, don't you? You don't jump on your skateboard with the baby on your hip, you walk, catch the bus or tube, drive... I walked all over the place with the pram or sling.

But you do get the 'my other bike is a Range Rover' lifestyle types in London.

YANBU but I don't think she was making a point. It's quite possible that this was her only mode of transport but the safety aspect would worry me. That said, kudos for her for cycling with a tiny baby, I could only stagger to the car at that point.

GermGirl I completely agree with you. The "tiny snapshot" of this mother's life showed her to be an idiot for getting on a bike in London traffic with a tiny, unprotected baby strapped to her front.

It's a pretty common sight in parts of Asia. Sometimes they ride on a motor scooter as well as a bike with a tiny baby strapped to their chest.
Scares me half to death seeing them weaving amongst the traffic.

I guess it depends on your own experiences as to what you feel is an OK level of risk.

Reading that made me shudder. It is hugely irresponsible.

Margot you don't know her, you don't know her circumstances so to call a person you've only heard about in an anecdote an "idiot" only shows you up to be that I'm afraid.

Yes, I think she's an idiot. I don't think I am. There we have it.

Statistically it's probably less risky than crossing the road or general car travel. I wouldn't do it but I cycled up to 38.5wks pregnant. I was careful and knew what I was doing and modified my route and riding but you can't entirely prevent an idiot ploughing into you for no reason, but the same applies to crossing the road as a pedestrian or driving your own car.
Also, I cycled again happily and comfortably for fun and a bit of fresh air 3weeks after birth. Some of us are lucky. But I didn't take my ds on the bike till his helmet fit which I think was about 8mo.

It's probably also less risky than the risks many parents take with under 5's on scooters on the school run!

I agree with Margot.

HoneySwampDragon in my experience of cycling in the Netherlands, parents very rarely use the straps on the child seats. It makes me feel queasy when I see really small toddlers sitting on a seat on the front of a bike not strapped in. My Dutch family think I'm mad when I mention this!

I saw a man in a suit cycling with his brief case in one hand and a rather terrified looking toddler (no helmet or strap) on the front of a Boris Bike (straddling the bag holder facing forward) - on a busy central London street in rush hour - not all that long ago.

OK so he may've been running late take drop the child off at nursery then get off to work but still ..

Ynbu. Seems totally dangerous to me. Sweet Jesus, what if she fell off the bike with the baby.
Very irresponsible and needless

Every cyclist/motor cyclist I know (personally) has been knocked off their bike at least once (plus the usual self-inflicted spills). Why take the risk?

All the baby wearing boards I'm on recommend NEVER cycling with a baby in a sling.

It affects your balance and if you fall for any reason the child has no protection at all - it could be crushed between the handle bars and you/ ground and you etc.

Yanbu. I find it really disturbing the way that some people "carry" children around on bikes. There are some families near us who have those trailer things with babies and toddlers in. So they are cycling on a busy road with their tiny children behind, low to the ground in a canvas covered trailer. I cannot understand why it's legal.

Wouldn't do it myself but to be honest it's none of our business. If that bored Google "entire family on motorbike vietnam" you'll think the lady on the bike was living life in the slow lane!

That baby would be dead in even the slightest fall. What a stupid woman. Even the best cyclists in the world can be hit by crap drivers.

She should walk or get a bus or not go where she is going. I bet she had a helmet on, thinking of her own safety only.

mrsF the OP did only see a small bit of someone's life, but the small bit she saw was dangerous to a baby.

If I only saw one second of a person's life, but that happened to be the second they were offering their 2 year old a drag on a fag, I would be judgypants ahoy.

I'm easy going with most things but I would draw the line at that. No way. She can get a bike carrier.

Someone walking with a baby in a sling could be hit by a crap driver when crossing the road - or even on the pavement. I have cycled almost every day for the last 10 years and have never been knocked off by a vehicle.

Perhaps she was a "forriner", where they aren't so judgemental over health and safety as here?

I've heard they do all sorts in other countries.

I've also heard that the UK is fast becoming one of the most unhealthy countries in the world due to lack of activity, smoking, drinking and eating too much. Do you also judge people ruining their own health?

I'm loving the idea of the compulsory 5 point bike harnesses in The Netherlands. You know that doesn't happen, right? It may occasionally happen amongst the very few Dutch people you've met, but you're more likely to find kids sitting or standing on the back of the bike, swinging from the handlebars, getting a piggy back off their mom or dad (or oma or opa) and all sorts of variations around that.

I am pretty sure that statistically babies and children die more in cars than they do on bikes.