To let DC cycle in a ‘no cycling’ park?

[RaisinFlapjack]

Our school run (of 1 mile) takes us through a park which has a no cycling policy. Until recently DC have scooted, but eldest (6) has recently started to prefer cycling.

Lots of small children ride trikes etc through the park and it’s not at all uncommon to see older children on bikes too.

So..do I let DC cycle through the park in contravention of the ‘no cycling’ policy, tell them they have to scoot or take the long way round on the road, avoiding the park, so they can cycle?

Then it's up to the parent to challenge those laws that she sees as outdated. Rather than bending the rules to suit her kids, and in doing so, teaching her kids that laws and rules don't apply to them.

Until now I’ve adopted the principle of treating it like cycling on the pavement - technically not allowed but tolerated for small children.

And from a risk assessment perspective I figured he cycles at a similar speed to the scooting he would otherwise be doing (he has to keep pace with me walking / younger DC scooting) and the park paths are broad, quiet and not flanked by fast-moving traffic (unlike the road).

But, the rule is indeed ‘no cycling’.

As for walking the bike through the park - it’s most of the mile, it’s not like we’re just crossing a small patch.

I can't help but feel sory for our younger generation. The freedom l had growing up, l was never off my bike and people would always be kind and encouraging, now it's the sour faced miserable brigade, pointing fingers and barking insults, l noticed it whilst raising my own two sons. The bikes were a problem, and the football , and the scooters, skateboards etc. You can see why a lot of parents just don't bother, it's not fun anymore.

@Justmuddlingalong

Then it's up to the parent to challenge those laws that she sees as outdated. Rather than bending the rules to suit her kids, and in doing so, teaching her kids that laws and rules don't apply to them.

Yes that's exactly what I said

Maybe write to your local council to ask for the rules to be changed to allow cycling

I am not a lawyer, but doesn’t the child being below the age of criminal responsibility just mean that if there were to be a criminal offence, it would be the parent that would be prosecuted?
I don’t think being too young to be prosecuted means what a pp said?

To use the MN phrase, what part of 'no' did you not understand?

Some councils are revoking these byelaws to prohibit cycling. Why don't you ask your council if they will do the same

<a class="break-all" href="https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=democracy.brent.gov.uk/documents/s79978/06.%2520Revoking%2520Cycling%2520in%2520Park%2520Byelaws.pdf&ved=2ahUKEwj-18u529jwAhWKlhQKHdrlBecQFjAJegQIBBAC&usg=AOvVaw2t7DtUnOSwx7ttdz672XZT" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=democracy.brent.gov.uk/documents/s79978/06.%2520Revoking%2520Cycling%2520in%2520Park%2520Byelaws.pdf&ved=2ahUKEwj-18u529jwAhWKlhQKHdrlBecQFjAJegQIBBAC&usg=AOvVaw2t7DtUnOSwx7ttdz672XZT

Presumably theres a reason for no cycling. Contact park owners and see why and ask if can be changed to allow under 12s etc.

@Moonface123

I can't help but feel sory for our younger generation. The freedom l had growing up, l was never off my bike and people would always be kind and encouraging, now it's the sour faced miserable brigade, pointing fingers and barking insults, l noticed it whilst raising my own two sons. The bikes were a problem, and the football , and the scooters, skateboards etc. You can see why a lot of parents just don't bother, it's not fun anymore.

When was this? we were always getting told of by the parky to stop riding our bikes, kicking footballs over the flower beds and dangling off the top of the witches hat. If anything kids have it easier today, they seem to get away with all sorts

I've a,ways taught my ds that just because everyone else is breaking the rules doesn't make it ok he does.

I've always said he has to decide for himself if he's going to do the crowd thing or the right thing.

YABU

no cycling means no cycling, that applies to your little darling just as much as everyone else

She can scoot or walk, cycling is not an option for that particular walk.

If it's most of the journey just ask him if he'd prefer to cycle and walk most or it or carry on using the scooter.

He's old enough to decide for himself based on the rules and old enough to understand just because he wants to cycle doesn't mean on that trip it's the best option for him

I would let him, it's very different to an adult zooming through using it as a short cut. Just keep him close to you and watch out for pedestrians.

As long as it's a proper path in a normal park & not a grass/mud path through a nature area where there might be nesting birds etc.

What a ridiculous question.
YABVU

If it says don't cycle, i'd expect scooters to be out too.
Go ahead the rules don't apply to you, just everyone else

There is clearly a very big difference between an adult zooming through a park and a kid going at probably no faster than walking speed next to their parent, but heaven forbid the judgy mcjudgysuns on here consider that.

As long as you are able to keep out of the way of other people using the park and the paths are proper tarmac etc honestly I would just go for it.

Anything for safer cycling should be welcomed.

What about keeping pedestrians safer?

@BogRollBOGOF
A 6yo is safer cycling in a park than on a road where you would expect an adult to cycle

I’d hazard a guess that the no cycling rule has sod all to do with the safety of the cyclist, rather the safety of other people using the park. A 6 yr old on a bike in a park could very easily cycle into other pedestrians / dogs / scooters or even other cyclists.

My almost 80 year old mum was knocked over by a child who came up behind her on a bike on a 'no cycling' path. She had got far enough ahead of her (walking) parents that they couldn't stop her in time.

Rather than stop to help pick up my mum they fussed over their child (who was uninjured but distressed at what she had done) and told my mum she should have moved out of the way when she heard the bike's bell. The fact she is hard of hearing and therefore chose to walk on a path that should have been free from cyclists completely escaped them. Thankfully a couple who saw what happened intervened and helped mum back to her feet and stayed with her until she was able to get back home.

Luckily she wasn't badly injured physically, just some nasty bruises and a cut to her face, but it could have been a lot worse and her confidence at walking alone was badly shaken.

Please think about the consequences for others when you consider if you little snowflake is too precious not to have to abide by the rules.

IMO this is OK up to the end of KS1, but you must make him cycle very slowly. After that - sorry, he needs to walk.

Why would you even ask? No bikes means no bikes. FFS.

@picturesandpickles

IMO this is OK up to the end of KS1, but you must make him cycle very slowly. After that - sorry, he needs to walk.

I think that feels about right to me. Toddlers on balance bikes and trikes seems totally fine (and very much the norm) - teenagers racing through not so much. Somewhere in between there’s a point at which it stops being ok.

He’s going into Y3 in September and I’m planning to get him a bigger bike for his summer birthday (he’s currently on a tiny beginner bike) so that seems like the time to say cycling through the park has to stop.

I wouldn't cycle.

I would go to the council. If the park is big enough they could make paths for cyclists.