Idiot cyclist?
Discussion
Saw one of these for the first time on the main road through town with traffic flying past and immediately I was struck with how irresponsible it seemed to be.
As a keen cyclist myself, I would never think to put my baby daughter in harms way on a busy main road.
It's one thing to ride on dedicated cycleways... but in heavy traffic with a baby in tow? Is it even legal?
As a keen cyclist myself, I would never think to put my baby daughter in harms way on a busy main road.
It's one thing to ride on dedicated cycleways... but in heavy traffic with a baby in tow? Is it even legal?
I guess it depends how risky you think cycling in traffic actually is. You see plenty of parents edging their babies/toddlers in prams out from between parked cars, for example. With good riding you can mitigate most of the risk anyway, and I'd imagine anyone towing their kid(s) around would ride very defensively.
ewenm said:
I guess it depends how risky you think cycling in traffic actually is. You see plenty of parents edging their babies/toddlers in prams out from between parked cars, for example. With good riding you can mitigate most of the risk anyway, and I'd imagine anyone towing their kid(s) around would ride very defensively.
It's the idiot on their phone running into the back of me that I would be most concerned about.Far higher exposure to continuous traffic than the odd street crossing
It is legal. I see these horrendously dangerous contraptions all the time, in and around Richmond Park. I shudder to think what would happen to the poor child in the event of any kind of accident.
We also get these stupid things with kids in the front. They wobble about all over the place.
We also get these stupid things with kids in the front. They wobble about all over the place.
skyrover said:
ewenm said:
I guess it depends how risky you think cycling in traffic actually is. You see plenty of parents edging their babies/toddlers in prams out from between parked cars, for example. With good riding you can mitigate most of the risk anyway, and I'd imagine anyone towing their kid(s) around would ride very defensively.
It's the idiot on their phone running into the back of me that I would be most concerned about.Far higher exposure to continuous traffic than the odd street crossing
Personally I'd rather have the young child in front of me on a front-mounted seat, so they can see where they are going and we can talk about what's going on.
ewenm said:
How often does that happen when you're out on your bike? I've never had it happen to me. I can see why you might be worried about it but what is the actual likelihood of it happening? We are all irrational when it comes to our kids' safety and tend to vastly over-estimate the risks to them.
Personally I'd rather have the young child in front of me on a front-mounted seat, so they can see where they are going and we can talk about what's going on.
I'm a keen cyclist, and I've got a 3 yr old boy. My concern about the trailers is that they just aren't visible enough to drivers. Certainly, no one's run into the back of me either, but how many have stopped close enough that they would be occupying the space where the bike trailer would be had you had one? Personally I'd rather have the young child in front of me on a front-mounted seat, so they can see where they are going and we can talk about what's going on.
Fwiw, I'll take him in the seat on the back of my bike around the local lake or on trails, but even then, I chose a seat which offers protection even if the bike is dropped. Many of the seats I've seen are little more than a plastic chair and a waist strap.
It's perfectly legal, and happens all the time in civilised countries where cycling is a perfectly viable everyday form of transport.
The sad fact is that people in the UK feel the need to react as though it's a form of child abuse.
Another variant of the 'get orf my road, cyclists' attitude that is prevalent among motorists in this god-forsaken country....
The logical conclusion is that everyone drives everywhere and is fat, unhealthy and inhaling lungfuls of pollution whenever they dare to step outside their air-conditioned SUVs....
The sad fact is that people in the UK feel the need to react as though it's a form of child abuse.
Another variant of the 'get orf my road, cyclists' attitude that is prevalent among motorists in this god-forsaken country....
The logical conclusion is that everyone drives everywhere and is fat, unhealthy and inhaling lungfuls of pollution whenever they dare to step outside their air-conditioned SUVs....
Safer than a seat on back and more visible, plus when I used to use one every single driver would give me a decent amount of space (which makes a nice change!).
Wouldn't take it on busy A road or twisty B road (mainly out of courtesy) but around suburban roads they are fine.
ETA: Did flip it once taking a tight corner at 20+ mph (my own stupid fault). 2 year old daughter inside was fine and thought it was the funniest thing ever!
Wouldn't take it on busy A road or twisty B road (mainly out of courtesy) but around suburban roads they are fine.
ETA: Did flip it once taking a tight corner at 20+ mph (my own stupid fault). 2 year old daughter inside was fine and thought it was the funniest thing ever!
Edited by Mr Will on Friday 20th June 10:06
These are all over the place here in Denmark, nobody bats an eye. The front loaded bikes are also v. popular and v. expensive. There is also a half-bike that you can attach to the back of your own bike. The child pedals to add extra boost on the overtake !
Some of the cycle haters should visit Denmark to get the pleasure of bikes that have their own traffic lights below the ones for the ordinary traffic (gives them a couple of seconds head start), they also have priority on roundabouts (with their own lanes), priority when crossing in front of other traffic, and are generally well looked after, traffic wise. However, they also all obey the traffic laws, all have bells (by law or else a fine), and when they are using lights, they must be visible from 300m away (so that old dynamo driven 1 watt bulb in a rusty lamp will not do). Probably the safest place I have ever cycled (and I only use the bike to get to the local shops and back)
Some of the cycle haters should visit Denmark to get the pleasure of bikes that have their own traffic lights below the ones for the ordinary traffic (gives them a couple of seconds head start), they also have priority on roundabouts (with their own lanes), priority when crossing in front of other traffic, and are generally well looked after, traffic wise. However, they also all obey the traffic laws, all have bells (by law or else a fine), and when they are using lights, they must be visible from 300m away (so that old dynamo driven 1 watt bulb in a rusty lamp will not do). Probably the safest place I have ever cycled (and I only use the bike to get to the local shops and back)
feef said:
I'm a keen cyclist, and I've got a 3 yr old boy. My concern about the trailers is that they just aren't visible enough to drivers. Certainly, no one's run into the back of me either, but how many have stopped close enough that they would be occupying the space where the bike trailer would be had you had one?
Fwiw, I'll take him in the seat on the back of my bike around the local lake or on trails, but even then, I chose a seat which offers protection even if the bike is dropped. Many of the seats I've seen are little more than a plastic chair and a waist strap.
I'm not sure basing your risk assessment on cars stopping behind an imaginary trailer is all that sensible... Anyway, that's why you tend to put the flags on the trailer to put something moving in the driver's sight.Fwiw, I'll take him in the seat on the back of my bike around the local lake or on trails, but even then, I chose a seat which offers protection even if the bike is dropped. Many of the seats I've seen are little more than a plastic chair and a waist strap.
I dislike the seats on the back because 90% of them I see have a child who can't see where they are going with their face often twisted out of the way of the parent's rucksack.
bishbosh66 said:
These are all over the place here in Denmark, nobody bats an eye. The front loaded bikes are also v. popular and v. expensive. There is also a half-bike that you can attach to the back of your own bike. The child pedals to add extra boost on the overtake !
Some of the cycle haters should visit Denmark to get the pleasure of bikes that have their own traffic lights below the ones for the ordinary traffic (gives them a couple of seconds head start), they also have priority on roundabouts (with their own lanes), priority when crossing in front of other traffic, and are generally well looked after, traffic wise. However, they also all obey the traffic laws, all have bells (by law or else a fine), and when they are using lights, they must be visible from 300m away (so that old dynamo driven 1 watt bulb in a rusty lamp will not do). Probably the safest place I have ever cycled (and I only use the bike to get to the local shops and back)
Why is this being spun into cyclist hate? Some of the cycle haters should visit Denmark to get the pleasure of bikes that have their own traffic lights below the ones for the ordinary traffic (gives them a couple of seconds head start), they also have priority on roundabouts (with their own lanes), priority when crossing in front of other traffic, and are generally well looked after, traffic wise. However, they also all obey the traffic laws, all have bells (by law or else a fine), and when they are using lights, they must be visible from 300m away (so that old dynamo driven 1 watt bulb in a rusty lamp will not do). Probably the safest place I have ever cycled (and I only use the bike to get to the local shops and back)
I love my bike
I wouldn't take my daughter onto a busy road on my bike though.
otolith said:
I wouldn't tow a fragile and expensive bit of electronics behind my bike, let alone a child, but people have to make their own decisions.
There is a certain irony, however, in that the children in the Q7 that ploughs into it are legally required to be belted into approved seats.
An unfortunate irony There is a certain irony, however, in that the children in the Q7 that ploughs into it are legally required to be belted into approved seats.
I don't believe in keeping kids in a cage, and I'm no overbearing father.
I do believe in seatbelts, and I do believe in making appropriate judgements until said child is old enough to make them for themselves.
bishbosh66 said:
These are all over the place here in Denmark, nobody bats an eye.
That's because in the UK many people still don't think it's normal to ride a bike on the road. If you have this mindset you'd never consider adding a child to the back.It's about the normalisation of cycling. It is happening slowly in the uk though.
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