Irresponsible dad.

I saw an odd thing yesterday arvo. A young kid about 6 yo and his dad (presumably) coming home from OSHC on their bikes. Both riding on the footpath which is fine in my book. Dad was wearing his helmet but the 6yo wasn't which was disappointing. What was even more disappointing was the kids helmet was on the handle bars of dad's bike. Not only didn't he care about his son not wearing a helmet, he was actually helping him not to.

I don't want to start a MHL thread (AGAIN) but most people I speak with or read online agree that helmets should be mandatory for school age kids, even if they disagree with them being mandatory for adults.

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Permalink Reply by Frank on February 10, 2012 at 13:37

Perhaps it broke and hence riding on footpath also.

I ONCE bought a cheap crappy pathetic never again helmet from Kmart for my little offspring, totally fell to pieces on 1st ride and we also rode home with her whats left of the helmet on my handle bar!

I took the bike, helmet and receipt back and asked for a full refund. Not fit for purpose, 30 minutes of arguing and we left the store with full refund.

I dont know what got over me but the bike at Kmart looked like the Giant they had at LBS but definately wasnt and neither are the accessories.

I should have known, how could a complete bike cost $99 and a helmet $14.

 

Just a thought as to why they are on the footpath from a person who has been there.

Permalink Reply by Patrick O'Kane on February 10, 2012 at 13:39

Good points Frank.

I know when my son used to go out on his BMX he ditched his helmet in a shrub in the reserve and picked it up on the way home. Once we discovered that he found a new hiding place for it. 

Better to be cool than brain damaged :(

Permalink Reply by Just another psycho-list on February 10, 2012 at 16:45

That's how the teenagers think, Patrick. I had a similar situation with mine.

My eldest daughter used to take off her helmet, and fluorescent orange safety vest, one block from home, where she was out of my sight. She would then hang the helmet on the handle bars and stuff the vest in her school bag, and ride happily to school, knowing that she was not looking too un-cool.

She also felt it was un-cool to use the combination lock that I bought her for her brand new MTB imported from the USA and would leave the bicycle with the helmet hanging on the handlebars in the school bike cage.

Of course, one day, not long after getting the bike, the inevitable happened.  It was stolen.  The thief had a helmet to ride away with.  She wasn't too unhappy.  Now, she didn't have to be the least bit un-cool and she never suffered from helmet-hair again. 

Probably the positive out of this was, that there was no opportunity for her potential brain damage after that.

Funny thing is, she now rides a powerful motorbike and she always wears a helmet and the full safety gear every time.  

Permalink Reply by Alasdair McLellan on February 10, 2012 at 21:33

Gees, I'd take off the dicky vest too.

Permalink Reply by Frank on February 10, 2012 at 21:52
That's what Chuck Norris would do too!
Permalink Reply by Doddsy on February 10, 2012 at 23:13

Chuck Norris doesn't flush the toilet,

he scares the poo out of it.

Permalink Reply by RD6 on February 10, 2012 at 13:48

Parents need to set good examples for their children, as well schools should enforce bike safety messages on daily basis, call me harsh but at times students need to be reinforced this message time and again.

Permalink Reply by Phil Crick on February 10, 2012 at 19:10

It's simple in our house: no helmet - no ride, bike, scooter or otherwise. The kids are however, only 5 and 3 so they don't get a lot of say in the matter.

Permalink Reply by RD6 on February 10, 2012 at 21:05

Same here Phil, same principle used at schools with hats policy " no hats no play " we reinforce that same principle here at home and elsewhere " no helmets no bike / no scooter " its that simple

Permalink Reply by Rob on February 10, 2012 at 14:51
I think about some of the things we used to get up to as a kid before mandatory helmet laws....lucky to still be here in my opinion...live and learn and pass onto the next generation good habits
Permalink Reply by Michelle Crick on February 10, 2012 at 16:06

I thought they were? well they are as far as my kids are aware they have to...

Permalink Reply by Doddsy on February 10, 2012 at 16:52

Naybe they were dutch, Dam those Dutch and their impeccable road safety records.

Bicycle helmets kill one Australian child every 2 years (due to choking).

Thats more people killed by helmets than pedestrians killed by cyclists.

Not saying kids shouldn't wear helmets, just make sure you take them off when they stop riding.

Can't get my nephew to wear his yet. So far he's only on a balance bike.

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