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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to feel terrified at the idea of 16 yo DD riding a moped to school in London?

78 replies

loveyouradvice · 21/07/2017 14:54

Just that really... she and DH both think its fine.... I'm terrified... image of her getting knocked off on busy West London roads... Can understand why she wants to do it though... 50-60 minute journey by train and will probably be 25-30 mins on a moped....and of course feeling independent!

OP posts:
Merrymumoftwo · 21/07/2017 15:43

I would be more worried about rise is stealing them using acid to attack the rider

Gowgirl · 21/07/2017 15:46

Not a hope in hell!
I dont even allow bicycles walk or bus.

LightDrizzle · 21/07/2017 16:06

Nope. My best mate's mum was happy for her to travel alone around the world. She was super-chilled. The one thing she asked her not to do was ride a motorcycle or moped. Her mum was an A&E sister at Hull Royal Infirnary. She'd sent too many people to spinal units, neurosurgery or the morgue.

Leeds2 · 21/07/2017 16:19

When I was at school, one of my classmates got a moped for her 16th birthday. On her first trip to school on it, she was knocked over by an articulated lorry and killed. So, no, I wouldn't allow my child to have one.

Lucisky · 21/07/2017 16:29

I had a brand new moped for my 17th birthday. My father wasn't happy (as an ex m/cycler) as he said they were underpowered and dangerous. I never had an accident, but I had some really close shaves, and it was only the quick thinking of other drivers that saved me. They are underpowered, which means you have to allow longer when pulling away, as well as judging oncoming vehicle speed (how I nearly got knocked off several times). After nearly causing a major accident on a roundabout because I had again misjudged, I was so frightened I stopped using it. This was 40 years ago, when there was less traffic, so god knows what it would be like now. Add to that inclement weather - turning up at work soaking wet or covered in snow (despite waterproofs) it was horrible. I went back to it after I had taken my driving test and had no more trouble because I was more experienced. They are dangerous, and one mistake could be fatal.

ChardonnaysPrettySister · 21/07/2017 16:33

No way.

LurkingHusband · 21/07/2017 16:50

The problem with bikes/motorbikes/mopeds is that you are accepting all the risk in the event of an accident - even if it's not your fault Sad.

YANBU.

Parky04 · 21/07/2017 17:16

I was knocked off of my scooter when someone opened the passenger door of a parked car. Luckily only a broken arm but I have never been on one since.

MatildaTheCat · 21/07/2017 17:22

Never. It was the only thing I ever forbade my DC from doing and fortunately they accepted that I meant business. I would also be very unkeen on push bikes for commuting purposes but mopeds are a different category of danger somehow.

Neutrogena · 21/07/2017 17:38

Loads of people I know have them without having had serious accidents. Look at data and not scaremongering anecdotes on MN talk

justkeepswimmingg · 21/07/2017 18:21

My DH rides his moped into London daily to get to work. I have to avoid the news the whole day, as if I hear about a bike accident my mind goes into overdrive. He isn't always available to contact during the day either, so I know I'd just panic. I completely draw the line at my DC ever owning or driving a bike (in London especially). YANBU.

DopeyDazy · 21/07/2017 18:28

Mopeds are gutless so everyone tries to get past you they have crappy handling and wet waether capabilities. Its a recipe for disaster in London for sure

Bohemond · 21/07/2017 18:48

I commuted on a moped in London for 4 years. BUT it was a 125 so powerful enough not to get caught up in trouble and I had been driving for 15 years so good road sense.
Your DD will have neither.

Original poster
loveyouradvice · 21/07/2017 19:55

Thank you all.... now going to ask DH to read all these posts....

OP posts:
AlecTrevelyan006 · 21/07/2017 20:28

I have a full motorcycle license - no way would I let my daughter (17) ride a moped in London. Not in a million years. My wife and I are pretty relaxed parents but this is one of the few things where we absolutely put our foot down.

MsSusanStoHelit · 21/07/2017 20:32

Holy fuck no chance. Not in a million years. Mopeds are terrifying at the best of times but at 16 she'll have the road sense of a dormouse. Does she even ride a push bike on the roads??

DJBaggySmalls · 21/07/2017 20:32

YANBU, The accident stats for bikes in London are awful.

titchy · 21/07/2017 20:35

Loads of people I know have them without having had serious accidents.

How many have had 'unserious' accidents though?

And what do you define as serious? A collision whilst you're in a car offers you some protection. Same speed collision involving moped and car equals life changing injury, and that's if you survive.

AboutAGallonofDietCoke · 21/07/2017 20:38

As a copper in central London

No
Nope
Never
Not as long as I am breathing will a child of mine ride a moped in London.
Bloody death traps.
My dad had one when I was a kid and stopped riding it after he came off 4 times in one day in icy conditions, if I had asked him at 30 I think he may have never stopped laughing.

I could tell you some delightful decapitation stories but some readers will have just had dinner....

GerdaLovesLili · 21/07/2017 20:41

Nope. My mother had one. She ended up in a hedge with concussion and an undiagnosed brain injury. She went from being a happy-go-lucky and friendly to almost unliveable with and that was 60 years ago when traffic was much quieter. (And I say that as enthusiastec ex-biker). She'd be better off on a push-bike.

Haffiana · 21/07/2017 20:49

I started at 16 with a moped and have had motorbikes all my life, and have always lived in London.

In truth, I would be unhappy if my DCs wanted to ride motorbikes, and in fact I also worried when they used to cycle to school. However I also think that some people are better suited to them than others - the reason that so many pizza etc delivery people are involved in accidents is because most of them are not 'natural' bikers. Bikers ride bikes because they bloody love riding them, and the special heightened sense of spatial awareness that you need to be a good and safe biker is part of that.

People who get a moped because it means they can get to work faster, or who ride one because their job is delivery MAY also love them, but chances are that they don't. They just love getting to work faster or whatever. They don't have and don't develop the sort of skills that can keep them alive. They simply develop the normal sort of road skills that the average good car driver develops.

All that said, it is far, far more dangerous to be on a bike than a car in any accident, including the sort that being the best biker in the world could not avoid. That is why I have never encouraged my now adult kids to be bikers.

Neutrogena · 22/07/2017 09:28

Buy her a car and she can wait until she is 17

plominoagain · 22/07/2017 09:37

As another police officer that works central London , nope . No way . Not ever . Hell no . Quite apart from the probability of having an accident - I must report at least three accidents a week , one of which will involve a motorbike and another one of which will involve a moped , the odds of it getting stolen will , I imagine , also be quite high . And without wishing to scare you , sometimes those getting stolen have been by means of robbery . I.e. Taken by force .

I wouldn't . Too much of a target , in more ways than one . Sorry to be a joy sucker and all that.

Talith · 22/07/2017 10:03

I had a small motorcycle at 17 and was couriering in London on it at 18. I'll gloss over the substantial injuries I sustained in the first year following a RTA Grin but overall the independence and money saved was bliss. On a bike you have a strong sense of where other road users are so whilst of course you'll come off worse in an impact you actually have much keener roadsense than whilst sat in a metal box. Not sure I have made a very convincing case there! If it helps the RTA was on a very quiet suburban street not in London.

HipsterHunter · 22/07/2017 10:20

I instinctively don't like the idea of it but then I wonder what are the accident statistics compared to being on a push bike?