Comments on: “Oi! I’ve got a kid on here!” http://treadly.net/2007/12/14/oi-ive-got-a-kid-on-here/ Work is just something I do between bike rides Tue, 03 Jan 2012 06:01:19 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Hielke http://treadly.net/2007/12/14/oi-ive-got-a-kid-on-here/comment-page-1/#comment-1087 Hielke Mon, 24 Dec 2007 02:41:48 +0000 http://treadly.net/2007/12/14/oi-ive-got-a-kid-on-here/#comment-1087 <p>Ahh, yes. Genuine WTF technology is still the best safety device for your bike :-)</p> Ahh, yes. Genuine WTF technology is still the best safety device for your bike :-)

]]> By: Treadly and Me http://treadly.net/2007/12/14/oi-ive-got-a-kid-on-here/comment-page-1/#comment-1088 Treadly and Me Sun, 23 Dec 2007 21:55:52 +0000 http://treadly.net/2007/12/14/oi-ive-got-a-kid-on-here/#comment-1088 <p><a href="http://abbotsfordcycles.com.au/public/content/view/22/38/ " title="Abbotsford Cycles" rel="nofollow"><img src="/assets/safetywing.jpg" title="a sticky-outty thingy for your bike" class="alignleft" /></a></p> <p>I know the thing hielke's talking about, it's a safety wing, $15 from <a href="http://abbotsfordcycles.com.au/public/content/view/22/38/ " title="Abbotsford Cycles" rel="nofollow">Abbotsford Cycles</a>.</p> <p>I guess the different clearances given to bikes with kiddie seats vs bikes with trailers vs bikes without comes down to how unusual each is. To a driver, an unloaded bike is "just a bike, no further analysis required"; a bike with a kiddie seat is "just a bike, hang on isn't that a kiddie seat?"; and a trailer is "what the hell is that?!?" I guess it also helps that a trailer is considerably wider than an unloaded bike!</p> <p>I'm prepared to accept that I may have unfairly maligned Saab drivers. Yes, I've fallen into the same logical trap that many non-cyclists do about cyclists: see some bad behaviour in one or two representatives and generalise to the whole group. There are idiots in all groups, but that doesn't necessarily condemn the whole group. So on mature reflection, I take it back.</p>

I know the thing hielke’s talking about, it’s a safety wing, $15 from Abbotsford Cycles.

I guess the different clearances given to bikes with kiddie seats vs bikes with trailers vs bikes without comes down to how unusual each is. To a driver, an unloaded bike is “just a bike, no further analysis required”; a bike with a kiddie seat is “just a bike, hang on isn’t that a kiddie seat?”; and a trailer is “what the hell is that?!?” I guess it also helps that a trailer is considerably wider than an unloaded bike!

I’m prepared to accept that I may have unfairly maligned Saab drivers. Yes, I’ve fallen into the same logical trap that many non-cyclists do about cyclists: see some bad behaviour in one or two representatives and generalise to the whole group. There are idiots in all groups, but that doesn’t necessarily condemn the whole group. So on mature reflection, I take it back.

]]> By: hielke http://treadly.net/2007/12/14/oi-ive-got-a-kid-on-here/comment-page-1/#comment-1089 hielke Sun, 23 Dec 2007 11:59:34 +0000 http://treadly.net/2007/12/14/oi-ive-got-a-kid-on-here/#comment-1089 <p>I don't carry our kids on a rear carrier but a front carrier, so cars generally are unaware. What I noticed that really does make a difference is the trailer. Hook up a trailer and cars gives you so much way they actually end up on the wrong side of the road. What drivers don't know is that when I use it in the city it's just stuffed with groceries. By the way, the unusual part of the story for me was that it was a Saab driver. Audi driver would have made sense, but Saab is so out of character. Full disclosure compels me to say that I used to drive an old Saab.</p> <p>I remember bikes in the 70s and 80s, especially in Austria/Germany, had this reflector that would fold out. I'll try my best to describe it. It was an orange reflector shaped as a ping-pong paddle with a really really long handle. It would be mounted on your rack and folded parallel to it when the bike was parked. When you would ride you would fold it out, 90 degree angle to your rack. Its akin to creating your own (midget-sized) door zone. In all fairness though, if a driver hit the reflector paddle he/she would probably hit you too, but at least it created a focus point that was a bit further to the side of your body. I tried to look for a photo on the web, but maybe they're not being sold anymore. Can't comment on the Thomas the Tank Engine bag. We use a Bob The Builder backpack...</p> I don’t carry our kids on a rear carrier but a front carrier, so cars generally are unaware. What I noticed that really does make a difference is the trailer. Hook up a trailer and cars gives you so much way they actually end up on the wrong side of the road. What drivers don’t know is that when I use it in the city it’s just stuffed with groceries. By the way, the unusual part of the story for me was that it was a Saab driver. Audi driver would have made sense, but Saab is so out of character. Full disclosure compels me to say that I used to drive an old Saab.

I remember bikes in the 70s and 80s, especially in Austria/Germany, had this reflector that would fold out. I’ll try my best to describe it. It was an orange reflector shaped as a ping-pong paddle with a really really long handle. It would be mounted on your rack and folded parallel to it when the bike was parked. When you would ride you would fold it out, 90 degree angle to your rack. Its akin to creating your own (midget-sized) door zone. In all fairness though, if a driver hit the reflector paddle he/she would probably hit you too, but at least it created a focus point that was a bit further to the side of your body. I tried to look for a photo on the web, but maybe they’re not being sold anymore. Can’t comment on the Thomas the Tank Engine bag. We use a Bob The Builder backpack…

]]> By: Treadly and Me http://treadly.net/2007/12/14/oi-ive-got-a-kid-on-here/comment-page-1/#comment-1090 Treadly and Me Thu, 20 Dec 2007 00:40:33 +0000 http://treadly.net/2007/12/14/oi-ive-got-a-kid-on-here/#comment-1090 <p>Now that puzzles me. Why should a driver take <em>extra</em> care when a child is present? Surely we are all people, and equally deserving of consideration. I want my children to be kept safe, but equally I'm damn sure my mum wants me to be safe too.</p> <p>Everyone is someone's daughter or son.</p> Now that puzzles me. Why should a driver take extra care when a child is present? Surely we are all people, and equally deserving of consideration. I want my children to be kept safe, but equally I’m damn sure my mum wants me to be safe too.

Everyone is someone’s daughter or son.

]]> By: pedaller http://treadly.net/2007/12/14/oi-ive-got-a-kid-on-here/comment-page-1/#comment-1091 pedaller Mon, 17 Dec 2007 01:30:39 +0000 http://treadly.net/2007/12/14/oi-ive-got-a-kid-on-here/#comment-1091 <p>We have noticed that if we have children along on our BUG rides, drivers are generally much kinder to the whole group of riders.</p> We have noticed that if we have children along on our BUG rides, drivers are generally much kinder to the whole group of riders.

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