dkatz1

I stand by what I said. I've been riding on Mass ave in boston for 20 years. I feel pretty safe there and I know what it's like. But I see a lot of idiots on that road. There have been, on the stretch of Mass ave just between Beacon St and Boylston, LOTS of accidents with bikes, in recent years, including one's where the cylists has died. Pedestrians indeed have been hit and injured by cyclists. And yes: anyon who's not careful on that road is an idiot.
With or without a child.

mr_bill

Just wondering. Do most Americans 'clench' a little when they see a child trick-or-treating?

Because that is [expletive-deleted] dangerous. (No, not the candy. The many many drivers who hurt and kill children on Holloween.)


Brainwashed.

-mr. bill

Rollfast

If they aren't operating the bike, is it required?

bruce19

Maybe this...."Massachusetts law requires any person 16 years old or younger riding a bicycle to wear a helmet. "

curbtender

Guess you had to be there...

I-Like-To-Bike

Would you consider calling the police to report a violation of that law an appropriate response?

Darth Lefty 

OP did not state the kid had no helmet, so you made it up yourself from the impression OP gave you. He might chime in here and confirm or not, but either way, this is only in your head right now. Hearsay and stereotyping are problems, aren't they?

bruce19

Which is exactly why I said "Maybe.' That was in my mind. I should have elaborated. The OP should tell us.

bruce19

As I recall, someone asked if there was a law. Thus my response. If I saw a very young child on someone's bike (assuming a parent) riding without a helmet, I would.

I-Like-To-Bike

Thank goodness helmet nannyism and snitching to the police about alleged violations of Bicycle Correctness wasn't the order of the day when and where I took my children for bicycle rides.

bruce19

I also miss the good old days when people could have a discussion without labeling and name calling.

I-Like-To-Bike

Back in the day, such informing the police about bicyclists who were viewed as "idiots" might have been described/discussed and labeled as "dropping a dime", but at least not every person with a predilection for informing the police whenever it suited their fancy was carrying a phone in their pocket with the police on speed dial.

mr_bill

-mr. bill

I-Like-To-Bike

OMG, Not a hi-vis fabric outer garment or styrofoam hat in in sight on these so-called"idiots". And the seating arrangements, they give "us" (i.e. serious cyclists) a bad name!!
Call the Police! Where is a pay phone when you need it?

bruce19

Anytime I see a child's life being put in danger, I will act and let others (PD?) sort it out. That's just me. You may not care. That's your choice.

mr_bill

Rest of rant deleted.

Didn’t expect that such a joyous video could prompt someone to, I can’t even. I should have expected it I guess.

p.s. The video was shot on a GoPro Hero 2, so there’s also that. And the scarf continuity errors, gah!

-mr. bill

Miele Man

I remember about 40 years ago when I saw a guy riding his bicycle up a steep incline in order to cross a bridge that crossed railway tracks below it. he had a child in a rear seat carrier and another child on a pack-type seat situated HIGH on his back. I thought that if he ever fell that the child on his back could be seriously injured. I mentioned that to him and he was pretty angry about the question.

I really do wonder at the risks some people are willing to expose their very young children to.

Cheers

I-Like-To-Bike

I don't doubt that others share such noble thoughts and would call the authorities whenever the would-be child welfare vigilantes think the "child's life is being put in danger," for example if they see children riding bikes or walking to school unescorted or being transported to school or any place else by bicycle in areas that the vigilantes view as too dangerous.

Given that some A&S types think that riding in a door zone, or not in the traffic lane is almost always unsafe and to be avoided, I can only imagine how they might respond to an adult transporting a child in a DZBL, or a child riding on their own in a DZBL, or maybe even riding anywhere (escorted or not) but in a traffic-free playground.

livedarklions

News flash, everyone's life is always in danger all of the time, it's just a matter of degree.

Are you seriously calling 911 if you see a helmetless 7 year old riding on the sidewalk? I don't know what "assuming a parent" is supposed to mean, so I can't figure out when you're saying you're calling the police.

Leisesturm

I called 911 to report a pretty serious (both vehicles totaled) car accident and the dispatcher asked "is anyone dead or seriously injured"? No? See to it yourselves then. We only respond if dead or injured at the scene. This is Multnomah County, OR. Reports involving children in imminent danger of demise might be treated with more urgency. I don't know. FWIW.

curbtender

Everyone has their standards on where the edge of the cliff starts. You really have to let people find them on their own.

bruce19

Exactly

livedarklions

I guess I could call 911 on the little girls who ride without a helmet around the corner and behind their house over and over again, but somehow I haven't felt an urge to run that experiment. What they're doing is illegal, but somehow "imminent danger of demise" isn't what I'd call it. I also don't think it's any more dangerous than crossing the street on foot without a helmet, and the law here is basically silly.

Miele Man

Statistics show that more pedestrians are injured in falls than bicyclists. Helmets offer some protection but far less than most people think. When you read the standard tests that helmet has to pass to be certified it really makes you wonder. For example, did you know that there are no impact requirement tests for the SIDE of a helmet? that's right. A helmet is tested by dropping it so the TOP of the helmet impacts the anvil.

I think it should be a person's choice whether or not to wear a helmet. Children often wear a helmet pushed way back on their head which can be far more injurious in a fall than no helmet at all. That's not to mention how thick a child's helmet is in the first place which greatly increases the chance of a rotational head injury. BTW, most helmets are NOT designed to prevent a concussion.

If and it's a big if, I saw someone riding a bicycle with a child on it and the bicycle was being ridden in an obviously dangerous manner I might inform the police. however that would be done for my peace of mind as I expect that the police would either not respond or they'd show up far too late and the bicyclist would be long gone. the only other option would be for me to follow the bicyclist and either video the bicyclist's behaviour or keep the dispatcher on the phone and keep them updated as to our locations and travelling direction.

Cheers

livedarklions

I'm sure I could come up with hypothetical situations where I would call the police--they'd have to be something like riding onto a restricted interstate with an infant on the bike or some really deliberate threatening behavior with the child, but not having a helmet isn't even close to me, in part because even if the police can track them down, I think the kid is more likely to get hurt on a botched pull-over than just riding without the helmet.