Small children on bikes on the road...

[coconuttella]

... Aged (I'm estimating) between 8 and 5, with parents chaperoning but the youngest were quite wobbly and they were on an A road, albeit a reasonably quiet one. AIBU to think this is reckless?

No considering bike's aren't supposed to be on pavements at all it's how children learn road safety by riding on the roads with their parents.

Not on an A road they don't! And kids are allowed on pavements last I checked. YANBU OP. There are roads and there are roads IMO.

YABU. There is nothing inherently dangerous about cycling on a road. It is car drivers that make it dangerous.

In my city it is signposted that any bikes on pavements will be fined if caught with the exception of little toddlers on trikes of course. A bike is a vehicle which belongs on the road. Have you even seen a pedestrian been run over by a bike on the pavement ? Its a gruesome sight and they can kill just like a car can

Yabu. Bikes are allowed on thr pavement and sounds like parents teaching them how to cycle safely on the road. Wish more pArents were like that.

Are not

Eleventybillionfucks - how many pedestrians are killed by bikes in the UK each year?
And how many by vehicles?

You are FIFTY TIMES more likely to be killed by a car or van mounting the pavement than you are to be killed by a cyclist.
cyclingfallacies.com/en/9/cycling-causes-danger-to-people-walking

Let's get a sense of proportion here...

OP - if you think it's reckless, then come and campaign with us for safer cycling infrastructure where kids can cycle in safety, as they do in Denmark and the Netherlands

Stop Killing Cyclists
London Cycling Campaign
Greater Manchester Cycling Campaign
etc. etc.
There are lots of groups out there, across lots of different localities. Write letters to your local councillors asking for more safe, segregated cycling infrastructure. Go to council meetings and ask for it.

I am 100% certain that if that family had a safer alternative route for their children, they would be using it.

I depends on the road in particular. Many A roads would be better than windy B roads with a theoretical max of 60mp/h.

Oh ffs they probably own a car anyway and just do a bit of right on weekend cycling complete with helmets and spod bars to pretend to be all about the alternative lifestyle while simultaneously servicing a mortgage and shopping in boden. I bet they went to nct classes as well in order to avoid the plebs who are the real cyclists who do it because they have no choice. And just to make a point they put their kids in danger. Fuckem.

Anne are you of sound mind ? I think you should seek some help

Perfectly sound thanks
Just based on my observations of cycling events and families that cycle.

They all have cars. Jesus, I've seen them drive to cycling events with cars on the roof. It's a middle class bullshit pretendy load of wank.

Families who actually need to cycle do not make such a performance out of it.

So "real" cyclists have no choice in the matter and cycle purely because they can't afford to drive?!

Lol Anne, you're funny!

So if you own a car you're not allowed to cycle?

And how do they get cars on their roof?

People are only allowed to cycle because they can't afford a car?

Muppet.

Yanbu. But I don't like cycling on the road (and never do) and I certainly wouldn't want my kids doing it. Cycle paths, empty paths and parks are safer.

We need collosal investment in safe cycle routes in this country. And nothing that puts cyclists anywhere near a ton of speeding metal.

I don't think you will get that investment unless more people cycle. It's vastly more popular than it was, but still needs to become more mainstream so that politicians take notice.

Ann, I've a couple of hinges you might be missing.

They are acting legally and sensibly as folk have said.

And a town signlosting that no-one can ride on a pavement is absurd.

You've obviously never been run into by a cyclist whizzing down the pavement at 40mph or more with no bell or warning. Children i can make exceptions for but grown adults who know the rules i don't.

I'm impressed your hypothetical cyclist can reach 40mph especially on a pavement.

If it's estimated that a typical child doesn't have the ability to safely and reliably judge distance and speed before 9 for things like crossing the road, how safe is it for them to cycle on the road?

To cycle on a road that is busy, I'd want children to understand key ideas from the highway code, road signs, right of way that are essential to understanding the behaviour of other road users.

My 6 & 4 year olds have very recently learned to ride, but on anything more than a cul de sac or very slow road, their size and size of bikes is too small for me to expect other road users to see them safely.

An 8 year old is possibly ready for proper road cycling, but I wouldn't trust a 5 year old on an A road.

In my quiet neighbourhood, cycling to school is popular, but all but the oldest do it on the pavement (probably not helped by the chicanes that are supposed to help road safety, but in fact make the road far more complicated to read...)

Not at all reckless. All kids should learn how to cycle on the road and it sounds like they were under close supervision.

@Eleventybillionfucks have you?

What is more reckless are the parents who allow young children to cycle without wearing a helmet