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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

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

198 replies

RaisinFlapjack · 20/05/2021 15:38

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?

OP posts:
IntoAir · 20/05/2021 20:34

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?

YABU

If you even suspected you were OK I doing this, you wouldn’t need to ask. Why are you teaching your children that it’s OK to deliberately and knowingly flout rules about shared public space?

Young Children on bicycles are often not in control and can do damage to other park users. I have personal experience of a child almost crashing into me on a footpath through a park. It’s not good.

OneEpisode · 20/05/2021 20:34

I’ve searched and it seems dc usually get away with it below the age of 16 because the usual sanction for pavement cycling is a fixed penalty notice. Fixed penalties can’t be given to under 16s.
The police can take it thru the full criminal process though. £500. They might not choose to do so but they can.
As pp have said, if you believe it is safe to cycle in this park, it could be made safe with protections for the elderly, deaf &etc, you and your dc could campaign openly for a change. What with the park being a shared space and all.

trixies · 20/05/2021 20:37

For anyone just joining the thread, don’t bother - OP has always thought she was in the right and is now posting that her council will support her, so your thoughts are utterly irrelevant.

GhoulWithADragonTattoo · 20/05/2021 20:37

The Police can’t apply it to an under 10 as they have no criminal responsibility for anything.

picturesandpickles · 20/05/2021 20:39

@RaisinFlapjack

Well...just had a hunt online to see if there were any indications that our local council might change their policy, and there is are response from them to lobbying to remove the no cycling policy that says they “exercise discretion in enforcing the policy” and “don’t intend it to apply to young children”. So there you go, sounds sensible.
That sounds OK for you then, ultimately it is their park, so their rule.
sharksarecool · 20/05/2021 20:40

I'm wondering why the park is no cycling? If it's got beautiful landscapes gardens and full of flower beds then you shoukd not cycle there. But if it's just a bog standard park then why on earth have they banned bikes? Some councils seem to forget that cycling is a good thing: better than having another car on the road and good for people's health. If the govt want to encourage cycling (which they do) then why arbitrarily ban bikes from a park?

quizqueen · 20/05/2021 20:41

Follow the God damn rules. How would you keep up with them anyway if they cycle and you are walking!

picturesandpickles · 20/05/2021 20:41

@trixies

For anyone just joining the thread, don’t bother - OP has always thought she was in the right and is now posting that her council will support her, so your thoughts are utterly irrelevant.
TBF, if the council have stated it doesn;t apply to young children - it is their choice how to enforce the rule. Now they just have to define 'young'...
FrangipaniDeLaSqueegeeMop · 20/05/2021 20:45

YWBU!

It's a good opportunity to educate your child as to why there are rules in place for the safety of others and how in a good society we consider other people. Part and parcel of parenting is saying "It doesn't matter that that person is doing it , you're not doing it for XYZ reasons"

DenisetheMenace · 20/05/2021 20:49

GhoulWithADragonTattoo

The Police can’t apply it to an under 10 as they have no criminal responsibility for anything“

Oh well, just let them do whatever the hell they like, then. Sod everyone else.

trixies · 20/05/2021 20:55

@picturesandpickles Absolutely. Just wanted to save others the bother of weighing in on it!

NamechangeApril21 · 20/05/2021 20:55

It says no cycling, so no.

Our local rugby club used to have a open gate so kids could play and run about, kick a ball etc with the one stipulation being that there were no bikes, quads, go-karts etc as it roughed up the pitch. Countless people in there on bikes, teaching their kids how to cycle "It's safer in here than by the roads", "there's loads of other people doing it", "it's just grass", "we're not hurting anybody" etc - rugby pitch is now closed to everybody because the pitch got that mucked up by wheels. It's a disgrace - they were doing something nice, that they weren't obliged to, that was safe for the kids and kept them off the streets and entitled people who thought the rules didn't apply to them spoiled it for everyone and completely disrespected the club doing a good thing.

BeingATwatItsABingThing · 20/05/2021 21:06

@DenisetheMenace

GhoulWithADragonTattoo

The Police can’t apply it to an under 10 as they have no criminal responsibility for anything“

Oh well, just let them do whatever the hell they like, then. Sod everyone else.

I’m sure they’ll flick their obedience switch to ‘on’ on their 10th birthday...
Giantrooster · 20/05/2021 21:12

Oh dear, of course the no cycling doesn't apply to your child Confused.

As per your latest update you'll be on here in a week or two complaining that a racing reckless 8 year old ran down your dc, and surely that's too old to be excused.

Stitched77 · 20/05/2021 21:15

Your "doing what you like because you and your kid are special" is the violation of someone else's safe space.

I'd be interested to hear exactly what it is about YOUR child that is special and trumps the rights of all other park users.

painfullyshywhy · 20/05/2021 21:31

@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.
this is so true even children on public busses or indeed in McDonald's get tutted.
painfullyshywhy · 20/05/2021 21:32

@NewMatress

I can't believe how many people think the rules should just be blindly followed, rather than thinking about whether bylaws that may well have been set in the 1950s are still appropriate and should be challenged.
Spot on!
mogsrus · 20/05/2021 21:39

its a good idea to teach your children that absolutely nothing whatsoever matters in your world,disobey everything is ok.

Original poster
RaisinFlapjack · 20/05/2021 21:42

@sharksarecool

I'm wondering why the park is no cycling? If it's got beautiful landscapes gardens and full of flower beds then you shoukd not cycle there. But if it's just a bog standard park then why on earth have they banned bikes? Some councils seem to forget that cycling is a good thing: better than having another car on the road and good for people's health. If the govt want to encourage cycling (which they do) then why arbitrarily ban bikes from a park?
It’s a big park with some areas that are more formal/landscaped and some that are wilder. At the weekends some areas can be very busy so I guess that’s why cycling isn’t generally allowed?

I think the council’s policy is probably fairly sensible as it gives them flexibility to enforce it depending on who is cycling, how they are cycling, when and where.

OP posts:
Daphnise · 20/05/2021 21:46

Maybe certain children are so special they don't need to obey rules.

Teacher says be quiet- no need.
Drive on the left in the UK- why should I?
Queue for a bus- my Mum said I don't have to.

Entitled children, entitled parents.

NewMatress · 20/05/2021 21:52

So it's never OK to question a rule or those in authority?

No women aren't allowed to vote
Jews must wear a yellow star
Gay sex is against the law....

I'm not saying a rule should always be broken if it doesn't suit us but it must be OK to question it, to ask people to consider changing it, to drive change if necessary.

ViciousJackdaw · 20/05/2021 21:53

@RaisinFlapjack

Does everyone who says a blanket ‘no’ think that young children shouldn’t cycle on pavements full stop?
I don't think anybody should be cycling on a pavement. Pavements are for pedestrians (and wheelchairs, of course). Cyclists on the pavement do not magically become safe if they are young children - they are probably more of a liability to be fair.
SoupDragon · 20/05/2021 21:54

I guess it's absolutely fine for me to take my dog to somewhere that says "no dogs" then. He's on a lead so he's right next to me.

NewMatress · 20/05/2021 21:57

@SoupDragon

I guess it's absolutely fine for me to take my dog to somewhere that says "no dogs" then. He's on a lead so he's right next to me.
No but it would be OK for you to ask e.g if all the beaches need to be dog free. You can challenge it.
Macncheeseballs · 20/05/2021 22:07

Well dog owners do leave dog shit every where, despite numerous signs, there are rule breakers in all walks of life