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AIBU

The child, the bike and the two dog walkers

(62 Posts)
TerriBull Fri 15-May-20 18:55:24

Have any of you seen the video of the rather unwieldy 6 year old bike rider and the two dog walkers?, it's on the Mail on line when I last looked, but I gather it has been causing ructions all week.

So 6 year old, not yet proficient enough on a two wheeler to be able to negotiate a safe passage through the middle of pedestrians, walking along two abreast on a narrow path, nowhere really to jump out of the way. She is ringing her bell on her bike and entitled father charging behind shouting "excuse me". Dog walkers claim they didn't hear her or shouty father. Child crashes into the pair and falls off her bike. Row ensues. Male dog walker, kicks the child's bike, admittedly not very nice, but possibly knee jerk reaction. After all who wants someone crashing into them when they are out for a walk.

Disagreement with my husband, strangely he's on the father and child's side, I say "strangely" because he' have gone ballistic with either of our two if they came up behind pedestrians on bikes with a chance of crashing into them when they were that age. I say father is in the wrong, he should have asked child to get off the bike and not push through two people out walking with a possibility of someone getting hurt and very bad manners to boot.

Your thoughts if you've seen the video.

kissngate Sat 16-May-20 17:40:55

If the child had ridden into us and fallen off, I would have picked up the child and OH would have picked up the bike. Asked if the child was ok and apologised for not hearing the bell. I dont believe for one minute the couple didnt hear the bell or the 'excuse me' by the father. Who doesnt pick up a child that's fallen nearby CV or no cv. Yes dad should have shouted stop before she got there but what a cold hearted couple they were. Deserve the villifying by the media.

Barmeyoldbat Sat 16-May-20 17:57:40

What has respect to do with it? Its to do with the fact that we are out enjoying ourselves, what ever method of exercise you are doing and surely it is a easy thing to help each do just that by being aware how your actions affect others. For example if I come to a gate and a runner is coming the other way I let them through first, it doesn't then interrupt their pace. If I meet a family with a buggy they usually stand aside and let me pass as I can flow through quickly.. Its not about thinking I have right of way by any means,
In the video the child rings her bell and also shouts excuse me and there was no acknowledgment what so ever from either of the couple in front, maybe both were deaf but it didn't seem like it. What harm would it have done to just step aside, back into the verge/bushes and let her pass. The father could also have shouted at the child stop. But it seems none of these people had any respect for any other user.

Loislovesstewie Sat 16-May-20 18:36:26

For myself, as I said earlier, I am fed up with cyclists hollering at me to get out of their way like they have special dispensation to hog the whole pavement and force pedestrians into the road. We are also supposed to be socially distancing at present and that is impossible when walkers and cyclist are on a narrow pavement. I notice that there are quite a few cyclists who seem to think that they are virtuous because they ride bikes , it seems to make them believe that they can behave in any way they like.
Her father should have been ensuring that his daughter was safe and if that means stopping her then that is what he should have done. Would he also allow her out in the dark without lights? Or without anything reflective ? Because that is what I see constantly . They have clearly not been given guidance on sensible, safe behaviour. I think that most people who are commenting unfavorably just see this as being the recipe for the future from this young girl; growing up with sense of entitlement .

Barmeyoldbat Sat 16-May-20 18:42:40

Well all I would say is that we are just going to have to get on, cyclists and pedestrians because we are seeing a huge raise in cyclists and after the virus is all over I reckon it will continue and expand.

SueDonim Sat 16-May-20 19:04:41

If you had respect for pedestrians, Barmeyoldbat you’d wait until the path was wide enough to pass by without forcing them to make way.

Oopsminty Sat 16-May-20 19:07:13

Father should have told child to stop.

Barmeyoldbat Sat 16-May-20 19:09:24

Utter rubbish Sue. Are you a cyclist?

MissAdventure Sat 16-May-20 19:13:41

I've always assumed pedestrians have an automatic right of way, probably because of the damage done by being run into by bikes, disability scooters and other things.

Barmeyoldbat Sat 16-May-20 20:49:16

Thats right Miss Adventure, they do. Most of the paths have notices saying give way to pedestrians, dog walkers to keep dogs under control on on a lead. If a cyclists is on a shared path usually there is a line down the middle, for walkers one side and cyclists the other easy. But with paths with no lines people tend to walk in a group right across the path with no thought for anyone else. So if I had to stop and dismount and walk everytime I met a group I wouldn't be doing much cycling would I. So when I ring my bell of course I expect them to part a small bit so I can slowly cycle past. If they are deaf, as I am in one ear, then that is a different matter. Its all about give and take.

SueDonim Sat 16-May-20 21:54:58

No, I can’t ride a bike and having been knocked down by a cyclist, and still having the scars today, I am frightened of cyclists.

Iam64 Sun 17-May-20 08:57:37

Our reservoir footpaths have signs forbidding cyclists but these are ignored. Lockdown has increased the volume of groups of men (yes its usually men) cycling at speed along these paths. Ive never heard a bell or a shout, just suddenly, there they are, forcing us into hedges