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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think a 29 year old female would not get laughed at

53 replies

MadamePeacock · 30/09/2016 11:41

My friend is 29 and can't drive. She struggles with spacial awareness and is never likely to learn to drive yet she lives on her own in a small town with rubbish public transport. I've suggested to her that she gets a moped/scooter but she thinks she'll get laughed at as they are for 16 year old boys not 29 year old women.

What do you think? SIBU isn't she?

OP posts:
amusedbush · 30/09/2016 12:18

I have been a cat driver for 12 years

Shock how does one get a cat licence?? Grin

MrsMozart · 30/09/2016 12:18

If her spatial awareness isn't good then a scooter is probably not a good idea!

myownprivateidaho · 30/09/2016 12:23

I think scooters (vespa type scooters) are dead cool. However, depending on the part of the country she lives in, it's not impossible she'll get laughed at, sadly

MerryMarigold · 30/09/2016 12:25

First reaction: A moped will be harder to drive with bad spatial awareness. Also a lot less safe. Stick with a car.

ThymeLord · 30/09/2016 12:31

Let me draw your attention to my (dead) thread from yesterday Grin Point your friend in my direction and we shall scoot around gaily together!

Scooter

GabsAlot · 30/09/2016 12:34

why doesnt she give driving a car a go just to see

alot of people adjust their spacial awareness once theyre taught

Wolpertinger · 30/09/2016 12:34

No spatial awareness surely means she'll be even less safe on a scooter/moped.

fldsmdfr · 30/09/2016 12:39
  1. No she won't get laughed at on a scooter.
  2. Even she she did, she shouldn't let what other people think stop her from doing something she really wants to do.
  3. If she isn't safe learning to drive she definitely isn't safe on a scooter.
JellyBelli · 30/09/2016 12:40

I did compulsory bike training at 32, and no she wont get laughed at. She is a paying customer. Any driving instructor that took that attitude would go out of business pretty fast.

QueenJuggler · 30/09/2016 12:41

Mopeds and scooters for working men and women are commonplace in London. However, if she lacks the spatial awareness to drive a car, she also lacks the spatial awareness to drive a moped.

Aeroflotgirl · 30/09/2016 12:44

Blimey I have failed 4 driving tests, and haven't learned in 20 years, now ds 4 is at school I want to learn to drive a car again (automatic), I am dyslexic, dyspraxic, and my spacial awareness is not very good, won't bother then!

WhiteDraig · 30/09/2016 12:46

If she struggles with judging gaps, judging distances and judging speed she would be very vulnerable on the road generally and a moped would be worse since it is fast enough to lessen reaction time but open so has no protection.

^^ This - plus added danger that many drivers don't see or think about bikers and they have to nowadays drive very defensively.

She might be able to drive a car - she may well take much longer to learn and be safe.

I grew up in area with shit transport - it's always a factor in where we end up living during our many moves ie somewhere with relatively okay ones.

booklooker · 30/09/2016 12:51

I always have a lot of respect for people who accept that they might not be safe drivers. I wish a lot more people would do so.

I have never been a moped/scooter rider, so I do not know the spacial skills that would be needed. Can she ride a bike? I would have thought that was the basic first skill required.

Aeroflotgirl · 30/09/2016 12:54

Yes I bike ride instead, I will try again, after a few driving tests, if iv failed, I will admit defeat and accept its not meant to be.

HeyNannyNanny · 30/09/2016 12:54

YANBU to say she wouldn't look silly.

YABU to recommend that someone who wouldn't be safe driving a car should ride a scooter.

She'd look more than silly if she crashed into something with it.

HopefulHamster · 30/09/2016 12:56

She should try an auto car where not bothering with the clutch means you can focus on the road much more at those beginning stages. Gives a lot of confidence.

SoupSpork · 30/09/2016 12:57

Riding a scooter with no spacial awareness sounds like an accident waiting to happen and would be far worse for her as no protection on a scooter.

JellyBelli · 30/09/2016 13:06

The best thing for her to do is to take CBT. Some people have poor spacial awareness in a car and can do just fine on a scooter.
If she is really bad at it she wont pass CBT, so wont even get on the road.

gillybeanz · 30/09/2016 13:07

I'm Confused how a scooter would help her spatial awareness.
I don't drive for the same reasons, I'm dyspraxic and would do some serious trouble on the roads, so I don't drive.
I think your friend is right, she obviously wants to keep herself and other road users safe, but obviously the reason that people will laugh is immaterial.

BaronessEllaSaturday · 30/09/2016 13:11

Aeroflotgirl learn to drive ignore the comments being made because it's about the added danger of riding a scooter.

I had an accident years ago when a car pulled out on me while I was on a motorbike. I was alert and aware so it ended up a very slow speed crash but I still broke my leg on the car bonnet and would probably have died had I hit the side of the car further back. If I had been in a car the accident just wouldn't have happend cos the dozy driver would have seen me and even if it did you would have been talking minor dent at worst. The danger from riding a scooter is so much higher, much more than people realise that is why people are advising against it.

JellyBelli · 30/09/2016 13:14

Spacial awareness is harder when the distance is further away. Plus on a bike you're not reversing under engine power.

Aeroflotgirl · 30/09/2016 13:15

Oh no Baroness, that nearly happened to me whilst I was on my peddle bike, I was on a main road, my right of way, silly car came whizzing by from a side road, and I nearly went into the side of it. No I will not be riding a scooter, but learning on an auto car. There is a driving school called No Gears, if anybody has heard, that deals with learners Who have learning difficulties, ASD, and nervous drivers, so I am applying for my provisional and will book lessons with them.

Dozer · 30/09/2016 13:33

Driving lessons would be far safer.

YelloDraw · 30/09/2016 14:14

That is a terrible idea if she is too bad at spatial awareness to drive she sure as hell shouldn't get a scooter - way more chance of killing herself FFS

LikeDylanInTheMovies · 30/09/2016 14:15

I'd echo those who'd say don't do it if she sees it as an easier option than driving. I would hope that if she was a complete disaster she'd get weeded out at the CBT stage.

Will people laugh at her? Given she'll be moving at speed and wearing a helmet who'll know whether she's a 29 year old woman or a 17 year old boy. Even if they did who gives a fig.

That said a massively fat middle-aged man once laughed at the fact I had mudguards on my pedal bike. ',Tha looks well with mudguards on your bike' hollered the well apolsstered gentleman at me as I was waiting at the traffic lights.

To which I responded 'i look more well than you, you fat bastard' before smiling sweetly and pedalling away.

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