Today as we were pulling out of the grocery store I noticed a man on a motorcycle with his (I assume it's his...) kid on the back. The kid WAS wearing long sleeves and a helmet... but it just struck me as extremely unsafe. ESPECIALLY when you consider that you have to drive on a 5 lane, very busy, 55mph road to get anywhere from this store. I couldn't help but think that one little bump, and that kid was going to go flying into traffic. There were no footholds for him, and his arms couldn't even encircle the driver... he was just holding onto the guy's sides. From my perspective, the kid looked like if he was in a car he would have still been in a booster seat. (Maybe he was taller standing up... but he seemed pretty darn young to me...)
Now... I am all for having some fun with your kids. Take them into the country and ride on some secluded roads, or find a nice, slow 25mph zone to take them in... I used to ride with my dad on his motorcycle when I was a kid, and I loved it, but he NEVER took us into busy traffic, or over 35mph.
I don't know... am I just being a prude here?
~ETA... I was going to get the plate info... but the guy's saddlebags (I think that's what they are called...?) were full of groceries and they blocked the view.
I am glad to see that most mothers agree with me...
Christy P... If I had gotten the info, I would have called the police and asked them about the law. IF the kid was riding illegally, I would have reported it. I agree with you on the basic idea of allowing people to parent their own kids, but when I see a kid put in danger because of it then I do intervene. I have turned in parents who leave their baby in an unattended car... I have also turned in one car that had 4 young children (2 of them were toddlers still) climbing all over each other in the backseat. If I see a kid in a dangerous situation like that, I WILL do my best to see that something is done about it. I would much rather see a parent get a ticket, than to have their kid DIE because they are too lazy to follow safety LAWS. Also... the saddlebags were the type that go kind of around the back tire... the kid's legs and arms were clearly visible to me, so I knew for a fact that there was nowhere else for him to hold onto... (I totally don't mean to sound aggressive or anything like that... I am just explaining my view and why this riled me up so much...)
My dad had a motorcycle when I was a kid and I rode with him.
The child had the proper safety equipment on. If that's what dad had for child to go get groceries on then that's what he had to use. He might of been a single dad and that his only transportation.
The most danger that motorcyclists face are people in cars. They don't pay attention. People that drive motorcycles are generally very safe drivers.
Personally? I think it's unsafe, especially if the child is too small to reach around the driver and there's no back for him to rest on/help hold him. My family has many bikers in it and nobody takes out very small kids. I realize other countries stack up families b/c it's their only transportation, but that doesn't mean it's safe.
My uncle, 40, a seasoned biker, was hit by a truck and killed even though he was wearing a helmet.
My cousin, 22, was commuting home and again, full gear/helmet and was killed by an accident.
DH wants to learn to ride. That's fine. But I'm not getting on with him and I hope he doesn't ride often. I told him I'd have to disown him for his own safety.
I have a motorcycle, But I ONLY have it because of the economy. I spend $175 to $200 on gas in my truck. I spend $25 to $30 a month for gas in my motorcycle. I get 65-75 mpg in my motorcycle. But I would give it up in a New York minute if I wasn't concerned about money.
I would only take my grand kids behind me on my motorcycle in my neighborhood. (I haven't yet.) I would drive no faster than they could ride fast on a bicycle.
I worked as a substitute teacher and spent lots of time in classes for the moderatly and severly handicapped. Except for the kids born handicapped, 75% of the kids that were in these classes were there because of motorcycle or ATV accidents. The other 25% were in these classes because of DUI, either because of the teen driver or because of the DUI driver in the other vehicle.
I loved my kids too much to let them have an ATV or mUrdercycle.
To me, its safer riding in the back of a pickup than it is on a murdercycle.
Good luck to you and yours.
What, pray tell, would you getting the plate info have done?
The child was with their parent and had his own protective gear. Also, if you couldn't see the plate, you might also not have been able to see where the child was able to place his hands and feet if needed.
Let's let parents be parents to their own kids. I'll bet the child's parent wasn't going to let their kid get on the back of that bike without ensuring their safety. Americans are so paranoid...go to Europe...kids are on their OWN mopeds, no helmets or gear, in traffic where the law is...optional. ;o)
I think that is crazy.
I was discussing this w/my husband and he wasn't sure if there was an
age limit to having a child ride on the back of a motorcycle.
Even if there is, I think that is crazy.
It's one thing if an adult chooses to ride one but taking a child w/you is
taking it a step too far.
Ok, well, after reading through these you can tell everyone does care. As far as what Beth said, she's right. Cars ARE a huge concern, even more reason not to put your child on a motorcycle. When it's out of your control why risk it? And yes, this iseveryone's business, if something had happened to that child everybody would be asking why the hell nobody said something.......
I just have one issue with the poster below, who said in Europe they don't have helmet laws, this is absolutely untrue - Every country in Europe has stringent helmet laws - having lived in Europe for 32 years of my life, I have never seen anyone ride without a helmet.
Personally I would not have a motorbike, or let my child on a motorbike - but some people are not as safety conscious - especially some men lol.
I believe the law is, and always has been that a child can ride on the back if their feet reach the foot pegs, and they wear a helmet - so the guy wasn;t probably doing anything illegal
According to Nevada State Law, he would need to have foot pegs that properly fit. Otherwise, no laws seemed to be broken. I have seen someone go on many of bike runs with their young son. I wouldn't allow it personally. However I will say, generally you don't wrap your arms completely around the driver, you brace yourself to the sides of the driver.
It's possible the father could not afford a car.
Actually I hate motorcycles. My husband doesn't even have one, although he'd like one. His argument, they get 50 mpg. My argument, so does the Prius. I'd rather he jump out of planes and off boats, which he does.
We had a small child die just last summer while on the back of a bike with his dad. It was a tragic accident. He was maybe 9. They both had helmets.
I was on a bus in highschool that hit a bike and I coud hear the metal crush under the weight of the bus. THe driver was thrown.
I just feel bikes are borrowed trouble. THey scare me to death. I do not allow my kids to ride on any motorcycles.
For my kids personally... I wouldn't feel comfortable with going that fast or that many lanes of traffic. Otherwise they have gone on many rides with my family members.
Personally, I feel its safer what the dad did ( child had helmet and long sleeves so he was thinking of the child's safety) than the parents who have thier toddlers not buckled in and jumping all over the car or the people who have thier dogs sitting on thier laps or standing on thier laps with thier paws on the windows or jumping back and forth... those personally have alot more distractions that could cause an accident more quickly.
I don't think your being a prude and I would probably feel the same way seeing it. It could have been thier only transportation. Plus when kids grow up with motorcycles they learn the correct way to ride ( even though I know it only takes a split second for something to happen!!) compared to kids who its a treat to be on one.
All we can do is be more aware when they are driving around us ( as we all should anyways) and say a little prayer as they go by.
Don't get me wrong on being light hearted about the situation... I lost one uncle 4 years ago when a deer ran out in front him on his motorcycle and earlier this month a driver of a car crossed the center line and hit another uncle on his motorcycle and he was released from the hospital last week after being in there for 2 weeks. I know how dangerous motorcycles are for anyone who gets on one.
Oh you haven't seen anything. In the mediterranean I believe everyone seems to be breaking the law. Parents don't even put helmets on kids, and not only will you see a kid on a bike with his dad, but try 2 kids squeezed in the middle of their parents. It's so dangerous. There are a lot of fatalaties where I am, but due to the hot weather, expensive gas,and overcrowded roads motor bikes are the quickest and cheapest way to get around.
I feel bad for the children more so than the adults. Why is it there fault that parents are risking their children's lives?
I'm the wrong person to ask on this one b/c I really hate riding on a motorcycle myself. Or should I say donorcycle? I wonder if there is any sort of law on the age of a passenger or what have you? The guidelines behind child safety in a car are strict, so it makes you think that if they need to be so protected in a car which has a roof and sides.... wouldn't that apply on something that goes just as fast?
I do have to say that a daycare my son went to there was a dad with a bike. The little boy was disabled and used a wheelchair. The dad had a sidecar that had a top and I'm assuming there was a seat belt in there. The kid's booster seat was in the side car. He was probably 7 or 8, but still needed a booster for stability. I thought that was a cool set up.
It sounds dangerous to me, but I had an experience overseas that forced me to calm down a bit.
I was giving a speech somewhere and my husband was translating. His sister and our four kids were also with us (ages 8 to 1, I think). I knew his sister was taking care of the kids so I didn't worry about them. But when I was done speaking, I asked where they were. My husband casually told me that his sister had taken the kids home on a motorcycle taxi--that's with two adults (her and the driver) and four kids on one motorcyle, and you can be sure there were no helmets on anyone. And he didn't understand why I got upset. This was in Thailand, and it happened over twenty years ago so people are probably a bit more safety-conscious now, but they still have a much more relaxed attitude about everything. (The prime minister was overthrown in a coup when I was there and his response was, "No problem.")
It actually sounds like the father had his bases covered. I would never take my child on a busy highway on a motorcycle, but I'll never be a dad. Kids need both the protection of moms and the daring of dads to grow up to be healthy and happy.
yes, it would bother me...but, on the other hand, all of the kids in our family have their own motorcycles, mopeds, & 4wheelers.
My sis was 9 when she got her 1st trail bike. Both of my sons were on their own mopeds before teen years....real helmet & all. By the time my younger son was 13, he owned 2 vintage mopeds....which cost less than his last 10speed bike!
Sooo, yeah, it bothers me that the man was headed for a big road....but not fair for me to judge. :)
I'm with you on this one - I'd be concerned. My husband has a motorcycle, as does his friend. His friend used to take his son on the back of the bike but he was around 8 or 9 and they never went faster than 35, and never in heavy traffic, AND the kid had a helmet on. My husband, on the other hand, has never taken either of his boys on his bike.
Would you have considered getting the plate number and calling the police if you were worried about the child being in danger?
