To all you parents who ride bikes

This is not a practical question, it's a morale one.The problem is, where & when do you stop protecting your children. Don't they need to learn some personal responsibility for their own safety?

 

You're responsible for your own safety as well. If you get hurt/killed it'll affect them worse. If you accept the stats no-one would ride a bike, but we do. And most of us survive most of the time.

 

It's a good discussion keep it going. Eric

 

I knew someone whose son played and loved rugby, he played it for years then broke his neck during a game when he was around 14, did his parents blame themselves? No, their son was doing something he loved, and still loves. I didn't stop my sons from playing, yes you became more wary and worried but life is life, do you stop them walking to school or drive miles to avoid accident black spots. If you take anyone on the back of your bike you are responsible for their safety and should ride accordingly. If you are too worried and that is what is mainly on your mind, don't do it, as you will be too preoccupied with that and you will probably have an accident of your own making before some idiot gets to knock you off!

 

Hallelujah !

 

I agree,you can't wrap kid's up in cotton wool and there are always risks in just about anything.
My dad hated motorbikes with a passion but it didn't stop me riding,though I did give him some justification when I was a teenager.
My kids have never shown any interest in riding,but I wouldn't stop them(though it would probably worry me) if they wanted to.
Both me and my wife ride and the "what if" question came up,you can't not live your life or stop doing something just because there are risks.
So take them on the back if they want to go but take appropriate measures to make it as safe as you can.

If you want worry,watch your 20 year old daughter go to Tenerefe with her mates for the first time

 

Every time you get on a bike you're putting yourself at risk. As BL Dave said, if you went by the stats you'd never ride again. I never encouraged or discouraged my step-daughters to ride or ever took them pillion but somehow they've both ended up with partners who ride bikes and have both ridden pillion.

It was very odd when one of them was living in London and came down to visit us on a bike. When they were leaving I had to admit to being a little concerned as they rode off. I wonder if my mum and dad thought that as well when I visited them?

I get more concerned about folks who cycle with kids in seats on the back. The state of the roads makes riding a pushbike a dangerous occupation let alone the traffic.

 

Yes that's a good point, pedal bikes are not up to carrying passengers compared to m/c's so at least side by side the m/c wins.

 

Always a difficult question I suppose - when do you ever stop worrying about your kids?
That said I have taken my 16 year old son pillion and he has his own 50cc moped to get to college on.
I do worry what would happen if I had an accident with a passenger and I have to be honest, I don't really enjoy anyone riding pillion both for that reason and the fact I like being on the bike on my own.

 

I can appreciate where you're coming from , I guess if someone else gets injured from doing something that you're directly involved in it's always going to be difficult to live with . Back in 2003 when I was motorbike racing , I came off my bike & a guy who was following crashed into me. I was pretty badly knocked up & had to be rescusitated & taken off to A&E & I heard later that he was so badly affected by it that he retired from racing , which to be honest made me feel pretty bad . I did make contact with him to say not to do that on my account , but it had obviously got to him quite bad . The fact of the matter is , we all do these things that have an element of danger mixed with excitement , sometimes it goes wrong & someone gets hurt , but if we didn't do this sort of stuff life would be a dull as dishwater & not worth the bother so the risks are always worth it

 

I don't take peeps on the bike nowadays, but when I used to I always adopted the mindset of "precious cargo - do not drop"