MicheleC

I'm new. This is my 2nd post after introducing myself. Forgive me if this is in the wrong section.

I'm relatively new at bicycling.

Today, while I was riding on a local residential street I saw a boy on riding on the sidewalk. There were several cars parked along the street and lots of driveways. I was riding to the left of the door zone.

The boy came off the sidewalk at a driveway between two parked cars, didn't even turn around to look, not seeing me behind him. Fortunately, I had plenty of time to brake. He finally saw me, looked surprised, and I said, "that's why you need to look." Then, instead of what I should have said about his riding on the sidewalk, I said, "And where's your helmet?" He said, "I was only riding to the mailbox."

Continuing on my ride, I was thinking about all the things I should have done and said. Ah well. Since I've started riding, I've seen many kids and adults riding on the sidewalk or on the wrong side of the street and lots without helmets. I don't think anyone is teaching kids or adults in our community how to ride.

natelutkjohn

It happens, kids are kids. We can't expect them to always be on the ball.. It would be nice if they were, but as we should all remember none of us were. Good job missing him though! It does make us faster to avoid those litle road blocks!

I really agree though that we should find some way to teach kids the safe way to ride... too many parents don't, and mandatory helmets give the wrong impression that that a bit of plastic on their noggin will stop all bad things from happening, they need to learn how to ride safely without a helmet, and then understand why a helmet is important... otherwise they wil grow up into all the other nuts on the road that make riding dangerous for us all.....

ellenDSD

I completely agree! And I am trying to teach my son to ride right, follow the law and the rules of the road. It's tough sometimes though; We get some yellers and they all say the same thing, "Get on the sidewalk!"

The folks who say they admire us for biking back and forth to school together help keep our chins up

JoMo

Hello MicheleC, Perhaps you and your LBS could get togather and hold a ride right clinic for the adults and youngsters in your community. This would be a good way for you to meet other adult riders, and feel good about your self by helping your community. (maybe save a life) And it would be good for the LBS also by bringing in potential costumers.

mandovoodoo

Ours train on the back of tandems. They seem quite cognizant. They do the signaling, track traffic behind us, feed information on other conditions. We talk to them about what and why. I suspect this hands-on drilling in driving fairly complex and long cycles will serve them well. The only bad thing I've seen my daughter do on her bike was to miss a corner. Just a bike handling thing!

MicheleC

Thanks. I think that's a wonderful idea. I rode today with a club that starts its rides from a local bike shop and had the opportunity after the ride to spend some time with the store's owners. As I get to know them better, I will certainly bring up this idea with them.

kb0tnv

I was heading home one evening in the summer it was not yet dark but starting to get that way slowly. I was coming down the hill and saw a kid cyclist just jet out from a sidestreet onto the main residential road. He had a yield sign and there was a vehicle that was creating a blind spot to see oncoming traffic. Before I could say anthing after he passed in front of the vehicle he had to quickly swerve to avoid being hit by a car coming down the hill passing in front of that intersection. I don't know how he did it but he managed to miss the vehicle and thankfully the vehicle braked. I am sure they were pissed. "Another Dam Kid Biker!" I ended up confronting the kid and he said he was more worried about his friend who was supposedly behind him since he "rams people". I told him not to worry about his friend. Worry about yourself. The battle is in front of you not as much behind you. He is a teen and said he would try better. He means well. He said we should all be riding bikes. I like his attitude but he needs to learn to ride better. Oh well. I can't save the world!

Keep Cycling!

FlatTop

I think you did just fine. Gave the kid some information that would plant a seed. Now he will be thinking about things like safety and his riding strategy, but you didn't get too heavy. Kids need small doses of good sense, administered from time to time. Well done.

Helmet Head

I'm with FlatTop. There's only so much you can impart on an invincible-thinking kid at a chance momentary meeting. You done good.