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Original poster

Is school run on a scooter really that embarrassing ?

278 replies

Confuseeeeed25 · 03/11/2020 21:21

Talking about what I wanted for Xmas and my upcoming birthday ( big 30 😭😭😭)
I asked for a scooter with very odd reactions from my DP and DS 🤣
I wanted it because mY DC ride their scooters to school and so thought I would join them !
They think it’s embarrassing for me and DC 🤣
Are they right ?

OP posts:
vanillandhoney · 04/11/2020 07:14

Adults can of course do what they want but I do think it's a bit off to deliberately embarrass your child.

There's a big difference between a teenager just being embarrassed by your existence (which is totally normal at that age) and parents deliberately going out of their way to stand out and embarrass their child.

OnTheBenchOfDoom · 04/11/2020 07:26

Just do it, I can't imagine living my life dictated by what some fucking random person on the street thinks. I am certainly not going to be dictated to by a primary school child either about what they think is embarrassing. Having the wrong water bottle (Smiggle rules) is embarrassing for a year 4 child.

Dh has an adult scooter with bicycle tyres for commuting into work (pre-covid) and several other work colleagues do too. We are not in London but it is becoming more popular. Most adults just ride a scooter that looks like the children's ones because parking is over £70 a week and even then you are still nowhere near where you need to be.

I used to have to drive DCs to primary school. So we would park a distance away and they would get their scooters out of the boot and scoot to school. I would then scoot back to the car. Great exercise and also fun.

ImMoana · 04/11/2020 07:34

Total cringe factor.

EggysMom · 04/11/2020 07:35

I don't have a child/school journey, but I've just bought myself a scooter for commuting once I'm back at the office - and it's great fun Smile

sbhydrogen · 04/11/2020 07:38

An adult on an electric scooter: fine (cool, even). An adult on a normal scooter: a bit silly.

BigSisLittleSisCardboardBox · 04/11/2020 07:41

I’m thinking of getting the same for my Christmas OP. 2yo DD has just started scooting and she’s amazing at it and can go rather fast. I want one to keep up with her on the school run! The older DC really won’t care. I also agree with a PP, I wouldn’t let the opinions of others stop me doing something unless I was harming someone else.

reluctantbrit · 04/11/2020 07:43

Depends. I hate scooters for children, especially on the school run as it means you can hardly walk a decent path on the pavement and more than one friend with a pram complained about them as well.

A decent electric scooter on the road - totally different.

Why not invest in two good bikes for you and DS and get cycling?

Mellonsprite · 04/11/2020 07:44

I’ve not seen any one the school run, but some in city centre for commuting (not London) Tbh they are a pain in the arse on the pavements if the rider is inconsiderate. I can see why it would be thought of as embarrassing.

terriblyangryattimes · 04/11/2020 07:45

Nothing embarrassing at all! I have an adult scooter and really enjoy scooting with my kids (though not at the moment as they're not allowed to leave scooters at school, and I can't take 2 back with me whilst riding my own!)

BiggerBoat1 · 04/11/2020 07:46

Sorry, yes you'll look like a dick!

Meuniere · 04/11/2020 07:47

My dcs looking embarrassed would be the last reason why I wouldn't be buying and using a scooter!!

BogRollBOGOF · 04/11/2020 07:47

I got a scooter for my 36th birthday. Best present of the decade Grin

I don't care if dull people think I look ridiculous.

Anyway, I'm built like the average 12yo, so unless they're close enough to see that 40 beckons, (and I am sensible on it) I don't look daft on the same model as my 7 & 9 yos Grin

It's much better scooting with them and keeping up because I can alert them to be careful of others.

SoupDragon · 04/11/2020 07:50

Only dull people will think you look ridiculous.

I used to scoot on an adult scooter when DD was at primary. It was great going down the hill to school and good exercise going back home!

Meuniere · 04/11/2020 07:50

FWIW, when I had dc2, many years ago, and esp in the area where I live, using a sling resulted in my eyes getting many ‘looks’ from parents, esp as dc was ‘not a baby anymore’.
Same parents would have been happy to see me use a pushchair instead though.

So my question would be. In that case, should I have stopped using the sling because it was embarrassing and I was getting looks from other parents?
I do t think so. Same goes with the scooter. If it works for you and you enjoy it, go for it.

SoupDragon · 04/11/2020 07:51

A decent electric scooter on the road - totally different.

Yes, it's Illegal for a start.

Qiry · 04/11/2020 07:51

I ride on my scooter all the time! It never crossed my mind that anyone would judge me for it! Blush. But it is a lot of fun, especially downhill. People are so weird. Why should we limit our transport options because of our age/size? Depressing.

ivykaty44 · 04/11/2020 07:53

why would it be perceived as embarrassing to use a scooter for transport?

Just get on it and have fun, its quick and easy - far better than a lot of other options for any reasons

ChasingRainbows19 · 04/11/2020 07:54

Kids are sometimes easily embarrassed by things, this kind of thing would of embarrassed me. Also the only adults I see on scooters in my local area are young almost teens, even that’s very rare. Great for zipping along a city centre but not sure about the school run

ivykaty44 · 04/11/2020 07:55

A decent electric scooter on the road - totally different.

Yes, it's Illegal for a start.

Not illegal if its a hire electric scooter

which is being trialled in some cities in UK

In other countries its perfectly normal to hire escooters, no one judges or remarks

Mumdiva99 · 04/11/2020 07:56

Not read full thread. I got one for exactly the same reason. I loved it. When I was doing lots of school runs a day it massively speeded them up.

Did people laugh? Maybe. Certainly many people commented. Did I care? Not a jot.
(They same people used to commented if I carried a child in a rear back carrier for the school run too....and thats not really an odd thing to do....so I think they were just making chit chat).

During lock down we used our scooters almost every day.

Jist make sure the foot board is long enough - mine is great. My daughters scooter which is also adult size has a short foot plate and isn't really as comfortable for me. Also get nice big wheels. Have a great time.

Figgygal · 04/11/2020 07:57

I want one for my 40th
What’s so wrong with them?

ivykaty44 · 04/11/2020 07:57

Why not invest in two good bikes for you and DS and get cycling?

there totally different forms of transport and the OP wants a scooter...

DuzzyFuck · 04/11/2020 07:58

Go for it OP! There are a few adults who scoot near me (nowhere near London) including an extremely dapper elderly gent. If I think anything when I see them it's 'I wish I had one, look how much faster than me they're going'.

RiseUpWiseUpEyesUp · 04/11/2020 07:59

Electric scooters are illegal on pavements and roads in the UK and are pretty expensive so I’d probably avoid those.

Commuter scooters (just kick ones) here are common and I live in a small town. My husband takes one to work and he doesn’t look a fool Hmm he’s not confident cycling on the road and it’s better than a second car for short journeys. I’d say go for it! His was £80 from Halfords.