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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Small children on bikes on the road...

58 replies

coconuttella · 22/07/2017 19:04

... 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?

OP posts:
savagehk · 23/07/2017 10:20

Helmets aren't as clear cut as you'd think either.

HipsterHunter · 23/07/2017 10:21

@AnneGrommit who's rattled your bars??

BWatchWatcher · 23/07/2017 10:22

No, there is no way I'd let my wobbly cycling kids on the road. They should cycle on cycle oaths for confidence and then go on the road.
Small kids are allowed on the pavement I believe. Kids have to learn somehow but parents should have sense.

HipsterHunter · 23/07/2017 10:22

@savagehk agreed but for the types of crashes and falls a little shield is likely to have (low speed, topples) they are a massive benefit.

AuntieStella · 23/07/2017 10:24

If your DC is not yet of an age to cycle safely, then they need to be in a park or similar. For they are not safe on either road or on pavement.

But those who are bigger and learning about road conditions and should indeed be on quiet roads and under supervision.

Pavements need to be safe for those who are walking, so those on recreational wheels should not be using them. Which is the law for bicycles (small,children are not exempt, but can be ignored) and just plain courtesy for scooters, skateboards and other fast-moving toys.

BWatchWatcher · 23/07/2017 10:26

Apologies, it appears no one is allowed on the pavement (ooo) but children under 10 are below the age of criminal responsibility.
www.cyclelaw.co.uk/child-cyclists

BWatchWatcher · 23/07/2017 10:27

And yes, everyone should wear a helmet!

ilovesushi · 23/07/2017 10:31

We get lots of very young kids cycling with their families here (countryside) and it does unnerve me as a driver. Some of them seem barely in control of their bikes. I think they look very vulnerable. My kids cycle on our very quite residential streets and on bike only cycle paths. Won't let them on busier roads until I am sure they are totally in control and have good road sense.

BoysofMelody · 23/07/2017 10:31

And nothing that puts cyclists anywhere near a ton of speeding metal.

I disagree, seperate infrastructure has its place, but cyclists shouldn't be afraid to claim their rightful place on the road. Bikes and cars need to find a way to coexist. Being visible, decisive and claiming a fair share of the road are important skills for a cyclist to have.

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

I wear a helmet, I don't understand the argument against wearing them, but appreciate they are only much use in a slow speed fall and then it is a case of mitigating rather than preventing injury.

A car ploughing into me at speed a helmet will make bugger all difference. However some parents seem to think they're some sort of magic forcefield which will prevent any injury, they're not, especially when half the kids I see with helmets on have it way too far back on their head and/or the chinstrap so loose that it renders the helmet utterly pointless.

BoysofMelody · 23/07/2017 10:40

You've obviously never been run into by a cyclist whizzing down the pavement at 40mph or more with no bell or warning

No I haven't and neither have you bee, you've just made that up.

It is absolutely impossible to get to 40mph on a pavement or even close half that on a pavement. Unless you happen to have come across Mark Cavendish, in full-on sprint mode somewhat inexplicably deciding to do his training on a suburban pavement.

UsedToBeAPaxmanFan · 23/07/2017 10:42

Anne most cyclists are also car drivers. It's nor either/or. I cycle for pleasure but drive when I have to. I drive to work as I have no choice.

Last week dh and I were one of those families you despise who had the temerity to drive with our cars to a bike event. That's because the event started several miles from our house, and was a 40 mile event, so I didn't fancy cycling to/from it. How does that make me less of a "proper" cyclist?

And that event finished with the last mile on an A road. There was a "fun" alternative 20 mile route aimed at kids (with parents) Which had the same ending. So lots of 6 - 10 year olds cycling along an A road with their parents. Quite frankly I thought the organisers were bonkers. It was quite scary as a competent adult doing it - it's a narrow A road with double white lines down a lot of it, so drivers couldn't overtake safely. There was also.no need for it as the start line didn't involve an A road ride.

Car drivers who never cycle have no idea how scary it is to be on a bike when drivers don't leave enough room to pass safely. I've never let my dc cycle on the pavements but I never let them cycle along busy/fast roads until they were confident cyclists.

kali110 · 23/07/2017 10:45

This threads brilliant Grin
Cycling is a middle class thing unless you can only afford to cycle, and not drive a car Grin

BoysofMelody · 23/07/2017 10:48

Kali

I know, either Ann has been at the crack pipe or she's a new specialist breed of anti- bike troll

GladAllOver · 23/07/2017 10:50

And a town signlosting that no-one can ride on a pavement is absurd.
Not absurd. It's unnecessary since it's illegal everywhere.
But some Councils do have signs to remind people, where it has become a particular danger to pedestrians.

AnneGrommit · 23/07/2017 10:50

There is something quite amusing about middle class wankers congratulating themselves on how green and eco they are while driving to a cycling event. The people I know who don't have a car don't go in for this ostentatious display of worthiness.

AnneGrommit · 23/07/2017 10:54

I'm not anti bike, just anti middle class petrol heads loudly coralling Jasper and Poppy along the road on their healthy crunchy outing to steiner school.

TeaCake5 · 23/07/2017 11:05

Middle class cyclists are usually selfish.

UsedToBeAPaxmanFan · 23/07/2017 11:16

I don't cycle in order to be green, Anne. I cycle because I enjoy it. I've never claimed to be eco-friendly. I certainly ky do g think cycling a few times a week would pit me in that category and ha e never pretend dedicated otherwise.

What is your problem? Seriously, what is it? You have no idea if I'm middle class. People drive to all sorts of sporting activities. Otherwise they can't participate. Not everyone lives slap bang in the middle of where all sporting activity takes place (not sure there is such a place). Would you rather people didn't participate in sport?

KidLorneRoll · 23/07/2017 11:17

There is something amusing about the utter shite you are talking Anne.

AnneGrommit · 23/07/2017 11:30

Not only selfish but also stupid - they are the ones taking their kids on unsuitable roads because it's more important for them to let everyone know how right on they are than it is to get from a to b.

BoysofMelody · 23/07/2017 11:38

Middle class cyclists are usually selfish

Wow, you can divine social class if a cyclist as they pass you by? Can you bollocks!

Not only selfish but also stupid - they are the ones taking their kids on unsuitable roads

Whereas I doubt you could control a bike at all, given the massive chip you have on your shoulder would cause you to topple over.

LittleLionMansMummy · 23/07/2017 11:49

Ds is 6 and has just got the hang of balancing, starting and stopping but can be a bit hit and miss with it. He can't do long distances at the moment and yes, he's a little wobbly. At the moment I wouldn't be happy with him on an A road, we're starting off on roads that are rarely used to begin with, until he gets more confidence and strength.

Justafrickingminute · 23/07/2017 13:44

I call reckless

Is it that much effort to get the children to another piece of tarmac they can cycle on?

There are IDIOTS on the roads - they are not safe!

NicolasFlamel · 23/07/2017 13:55

The pavements thing always confuses me on here. In my fairly large village all the pavements on one side of the road have signs to say it's for pedestrian and bikes. It must be quite unusual.

originalbiglymavis · 23/07/2017 14:11

We've had a lot of upheaval around here with new bike lanes taking up a lot of the road.

There are bike traffic lights, crossings, lanes on both sides if the road. Brilliant plan but it just doesn't work. Traffic is constantly backed up as there is the same traffic squeezed into one lane (it's the main road so quiet backstreets are now rat runs) and the bikes still hurtle along the pavement or along the single lane roads so that traffic gets stuck behind them as there isn't room to overtake. They don't bother stopping at the red bike stop signals and turn into traffic at no turn signs it up one way street. The Boris bikes are the worst as it's often wobbly tourists around here. They only place I don't see them is the horse lane as I suppose they don't want a hoof up their backside. This is next to a horrible corner where it's mixed pavement usage - a school one side and playpark the other. Bikes hurtle around there like crazy.

I hope the family the OP saw were teaching the kids how to ride safely and signal properly.