Family cycling expeditions

[Gingergossip]

So its great to go out cycling, I love it. Not enough to need Lycra fetish wear though. So today I've been dodging family cycling expeditions. All you need is two unable to control ED adults and two small kids to monopolise the entire pavement. My elderly neighbor was panicked into stepping out in the road and having a near miss with a car.

Also this week. I had a dangerous encounter with an infanticide machine AKA a cargo bike, barrelling down the pavement on Underhill road. I suppose it makes a change from daring the bus on Lordship Lane squash your little cargeteers.

This isn't Amsterdam or Copenhagen. This is South London with plenty of crazy drivers who don't give a damn about your green aspirations or 20mph zones!

[yourmomma]

You forgot to mention road tax and and jumping red lights. 3/10 for your rant.

[Nigello]

I?ve seen more families on bike trips - which is A Good Thing - and all have been on the road. Selfish, young adults cycling alone are the ones riding on footpaths even in quiet streets. It?s bad form at the best of times and especially now. Pavements are for pedestrians and those in wheelchairs; the welcome pivot towards greener transport for everyone means accommodating the rights of all, including pedestrians/wheelchair users, all of whom are mindful of not getting closer than six feet to others. (I get that very occasionally a cyclist may choose to - not ?have to? - avoid bad traffic by going off road but even then, dismounting is best for all.)

[malumbu]

Wow, I thought this was a thread on recommendations for family cycle trips. You need to label your threads better "I hate families cycling" and you'd also get others joining in to agree with you. But a tad sad?

[KidKruger]

agreed Malumbu, let's cut the families some slack. Or talk to THEM when they inconvenience you.

[fishbiscuits]

The OP is an hysterical overreaction, but nevertheless, I'm not really sure that kids riding on the pavement is a great idea at the moment.

[binkylilyput]

Hysterical, moany nonsense

You are clearly bored

[Earl Aelfheah]

Southwark need to accelerate pavement widening, road closures and temporary, segregated bike lanes. It's happened in cities all over the world and although it is finally starting in London, the pace is incredibly slow.

[seenbeen]

fishbiscuits Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> The OP is an hysterical overreaction, but

> nevertheless, I'm not really sure that kids riding

> on the pavement is a great idea at the moment.

One experience I wouldn't like to happen again is when you get 2 kids on bikes bombing down the pavement and mum and dad on the road- so as you jump into the road you are almost hit by the parents- what to do?

[fishbiscuits]

Yeah of course that's one scenario, SB. But anything that might force someone to move off the pavement and into the road isn't really ideal. Kids don't usually have the awareness to cooperate effectively with pedestrians.

(to state the obvious.. I am not "demonizing" anyone, I like kids. I like cyclists. But just not convinced kids riding bikes on the pavement is compatible with social distancing)