Bike towing a child in a trailer on an A road

[WinniePig]

Driving back from garden centre today on an A road with a 60mph limit, we join a queue of traffic waiting to overtake cyclist towing a trailer. As we pass, I notice a toddler in the trailer...on a busy single carriageway...with a 60mph limit!!! WTAF? How stupid and dangerous. The road is bendy and fast in places. It may be legal but seriously would you risk towing your child in what is practically a tent on wheels?

AIBU or was that an incredibly stupid thing to do?

I wouldn't.

However people get on to roads by whatever method and don't realise the type of road it is until they are on it but can't get off.

I personally don't like any cyclists on NSL roads. 🤷‍♀️

Tough, we have every right to be there, you just have to be careful and patient!

The onus is on car drivers to be careful here. I would always give a cyclist at least a car’s length amount of space / room on a single lane A road.

They have as much right as you do to be there - you need to drive more carefully.

Ridiculous virtue signalling twattery.

They may have as much right to be there, but there is such potential for tragedy, I really wouldn’t. I don’t like those low down trailers being used on roads anyways- yes on country paths etc with no cars, but it’s just too much risk.

It is incredibly dangerous.

They may have the right to be there, but honestly who would take the risk?

I have seen a lot more of this in lockdown. Will sadly be the small child who gets the brunt of any crash.

You'd better not move up to Cambridge. Everybody does stuff like that up here. Completely normal.

It's incredibly dangerous because so few people do it that drivers don't know how to cope, get impatient etc

Only dangerous because of the incompetence/ ignorance of some drivers

I have been amazed at how many people I have seen out on bikes who have no idea about road safety.

Small children weaving all over the road, cyclists trying to make me overtake them on blind bends - umm no I will wait thanks!

I am super careful around cyclists but worry about how reckless some people are with their own and their children's safety because not everyone drives as carefully as me.

But even if we accept drivers are impatient etc - would you risk it with a toddler in the back of a trailer - I wouldn't it.

Same as with horse riders on busy road - they make me very nervous and I am careful around them.

Risk management is about balancing the likelihood of an accident with outcome of accident. The outcome for the toddler in case of an accident would be catastrophic (as it would be for an adult cyclist) with a car at 60mph

On quiet roads or cycle paths etc, the trailers are a great way of transporting toddlers.

I find it bizarre how you have to have a car seat of a particular safety standard, crash tested etc to put a child in a car, yet you can drag a child along a road at car tyre level outside a car with a sheet of canvas between them and a moving vehicle! At any speed that’s a disaster!

It makes me incredibly uncomfortable and I wouldn't do it...

But this thread has reminded me of this:

https://www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.edinburghlive.co.uk/news/edinburgh-news/watch-edinburgh-based-stunt-rider-16306225.amp Toddler Trailer Tricks]

This post is absolutely not about a cyclist’s right to be on the road. Not at all. But all motorcyclists and cyclists recognise the need to ride / cycle defensively and take a risk every time they go out that they might not be seen at a crucial moment, i.e. when a car flies round a corner or pulls out of a junction. The AIBU relates to intentionally putting your child at risk by choosing to put them on a busy A road in a tent on wheels.

A toddler in a tent on wheels should be absolutely nowhere near cars travelling at 60 miles per hour or even 30 miles per hour. The most precious thing in your life and no protection if someone was not paying attention! Absolutely not!

Clicky link (sorry!!!)

www.edinburghlive.co.uk/news/edinburgh-news/watch-edinburgh-based-stunt-rider-16306225.amp]

It’s dangerous because drivers are bad.
We got a trailer as cycling is my normal mode of cycling (sorry drivers, I know such an inconvenience but I care about the planet) but seeing how some people drive I could put my daughter in there.
This isn’t my failing, it’s the drivers. I’m thinking cargo bike up front.
At some point doesn’t the world need to change?
Driver slower. Be more considerate. And stop telling cyclist they are bad parents.

www.edinburghlive.co.uk/news/edinburgh-news/watch-edinburgh-based-stunt-rider-16306225.amp

Post edited by MNHQ to fix link

I've reported my posts because I'm useless at posting links

I have taken maps which suddenly have half a mile on very busy roads, but there may be no alternative to get to the next part of cycle lane.

@MilkLady02

I find it bizarre how you have to have a car seat of a particular safety standard, crash tested etc to put a child in a car, yet you can drag a child along a road at car tyre level outside a car with a sheet of canvas between them and a moving vehicle! At any speed that’s a disaster!

Agree. How is it legal?

The minimum sisatsnce you should give a bike is 1.5m. Therefore even little kids who don’t cycle in a complete straight line should be safe. If you don’t do this then you are a cunt in a motorised vehicle.