AIBU to ask if bicycle towing a child carrier looks unbelievably unsafe?

[longwayoff]

I don't spend much time in traffic but noticed one of these the other day which made me feel a bit concerned. Today, the Mail has video of someone crossing 3 lanes of traffic with one attached. They look dangerous on so many levels. How can they be legal?

there need to be more cycle lanes, there are so few, they are always rebuilding roads, why dont they incorporate cycle lanes

Not across the M62, nope.

they are always rebuilding roads, why dont they incorporate cycle lanes

They redesigned a long stretch of road in a city near me recently, to include a purpose built cycle lane. A lot of the cyclists still use the road and the pavement.

Today, the Mail has video of someone crossing 3 lanes of traffic with one attached. They look dangerous on so many levels. How can they be legal?

Wow, so they do. ON A MOTORWAY

It's completely illegal to have a push bike on a motorway in the first place. That child had a lucky escape!

Child carriers are probably safe enough if you're responsible about how and when you use them.

I have one and have used it for the kids. BUT I never go on busy roads, just the estate we live on (minimal traffic) and then local parks/trails.

I am always very conscious of other cars when pulling it. It does have a flag on top eye level to drivers but if it become busy I would often pull over or go into the pavement if it's safe too.

They are very good on trails though. My son loved it and waved at everyone. He also used to fall asleep in it.

I live in a particularly wealthy area where all the vegan parents have these for the school run. One parent in particular gives me the fear becuase they have two or three kids on their own bikes and then a newborn in a maxi cosi strapped onto his bike with a front carrying wooden box - like a Dutch messanger bike.

More kids die in cars

I think I’d only use one somewhere like Center Parcs.

More kids die in cars because more kids travel in cars.

They are bonkers. I can't work out how the fuck they are legal.

They are unsafe due to car drivers, a small amount of car drivers don't look properly and pass way too close. I've 4 bikes and never been a car driver and I've nearly had my coat ripped off my back from a close pass and had loads of cars pulling out on me etc.

Every time I see one of these I think what a fucking irresponsible parent would put their child in danger like that. I have no idea why it's legal. Poor kids.

I do wish cycling was safer though.

It’s not the cycling that’s dangerous though, unfortunately it’s other road users & There inability to put their mobile phone down

Saying these are unsafe is like saying women shouldn't walk down the street on their own at night because it might be "unsafe". They are perfectly safe if car drivers choose to drive in a way that is safe.

If they are bonkers why are more children during in them in Nederlands where everyother parent uses one? Or is it because in Nederlands drivers have respect for cyclists because everyone cycles and therefore they don’t drive dangerously around the trailers

It’s not the trailers that are dangerous or the cyclists being irresponsible- it’s the drivers behaving dangerously

gone had hit the nail on the head, victim blaming instead of making motorists stand up to their actions

There was a woman not only towing a trailer with two kids in but also dragging her dog along on a lead. She sailed through red lights, oblivious to the chaos she caused behind her. She clearly thought that normal laws of the road did not apply to her.
It used to drive me mad that school kids were told off by the community policeman but he did not dare tackle her.

As for why people may be on roads with these rather than dedicated cycle paths. Most of the dedicated paths and national cycle routes locally have anti motorbike barriers at the ends and you can't get a trailer through.

www.google.com/search?q=things+that+never+happened&client=safari&channel=iphone_bm&prmd=insv&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwie0rbyhujgAhVlRhUIHUwLBh0Q_AUoAXoECAsQAQ&biw=414&bih=595#imgrc=bXVW9DSqC9gF8M

You see them in Netherlands but on the cycling path, not on the road.

They scare me because I saw one come unattached from the bike, years ago, right in front of me. I appreciate that could happen for all sorts of reasons but I just wouldn't ever want to use one.

Gamer they are on the roads as well as cycle paths - not every rd in Nederlands has a cycle path on it

They are extremely dangerous. I would never use one

I had one of these for my 2-they loved it.

Am in Germany though.

Bonkers on a road. Utterly bonkers.

Maybe on a quiet off road track.

We never used one.

It is bonkers. 5 strap harness seat in a metal car with air bags. Or flimsy canvas with no protection right next to traffic

I think it’s unfair and wrong to suggest that there are motorists who care so little, that they would wish to injure cyclists. There are motorists who are irritated or concerned by the behaviour of cyclists and vice versa. I’ve seen plenty of cyclists who are plugged into music, or using phones as well.

The idea of a cycle with a trailer on busy roads seems to be a recipe for disaster, for all the reasons mentioned.