disappointed rant..

[hebe]

I was going to blog this, but I think here is probably a better place.

I mentionned to dd's God-parents (great long-standing friends of both dh and I) that I was hoping to ride with dd in a trailer on-road later this year. They were both genuinely horrified that I'd even consider it. They're not cyclists. They live in London, whereas I'm in the country, so there's a bit of difference in terms of traffic. Round here the traffic is used to tractors and horses and carts, so is rather slower, and I would be hugely careful about mitigating any risk by taking some more instruction, practising on quiet roads, planning routes carefully and staying well within my capabilities. It's not as if we live in a risk-free bubble anyway, and I really want dd to grow up with choices to the car available to her.

I've spent a good hour this afternoon looking at UK accident stats, and it seems that cycling is signficantly safer than walking or driving. If I was learning to drive I don't think they'd have been in the slightest bit worried. I'm quite sad about it, they'd be the first people to encourage dd to be independent but I'm disappointed that they think I'd willingly be risking dd.

sigh. Thank you for reading.

[Crankin]

Ignore them. You said it yourself: they are not cyclists.

[Bluetree]

Ignore them. You said it yourself: they are not cyclists.

+1.

I rode through the UK and it's actually one of the better (safer) places to ride. I rode from London, thru Wiltshire and Somerset to Devon (Teignmouth), then went back and north thru Gloucester and Cardiff before being stopped in Shropshire because of horrible weather. There really is no comparison to the aggressive/angry drivers and some subpar road conditions I have to deal with in the States.

You live in beautiful country – don't let old fuddyduddies deter you from seeing it on two wheels!

[redrhodie]

Yes, non-cyclists often don't get it, and it can be surprising when it's someone you think would understand. I think your dd will love it, and you will find it safe, fun, economical, and useful. Go for it!

[lph]

ah, sheesh, it's the "cycling is incredibly dangerous" reflex kicking in. Isn't that annoying...

We got the same from my in-laws. We rode our bikes everywhere, they talked about it with awe and amazement. We had a baby, they helped us buy a trailer, we rode everywhere with him we could, on closed roads, quiet streets, bike paths and sidewalks. I overheard MIL "bragging" to some friends in a shocked tone about how we "took him in the trailer everywhere, right out on the motorway in all the traffic and cars!"

At the time I flipped and went all righteous and pontificating on her, but it's just that she had never had need to differentiate between the risk level on the motorway and on a quiet residential street because she drives her **** car everywhere.

[limewave]

I pulled DD in a trailer all the time before DS came a long. My parent's completely flipped out about it. They eventually learned to bite their tongue. We'd often do 30 mile rides. I even brought DD along to a weekly women's group ride.

We have the burley solo, which seats only one and is therefore narrower--we could really hug the side of the road.