Mother Nearly Killed Me

DonDaddyD

WheezyMcChubby wrote:

Never understood why people who aren't leaving their kids to school would be driving/cycling past the school. Is there only one road in London?

Don't normally agree with you. But +1!

Example: Dulwich. It's on the way to work, won't go through it I ride and or drive around it.

Simples.

Yes technically it would be quicker to go through it, if the schools didn't exist but they do so it's not;.

If i lived on a road with a school or near a school, as I do. I will ride around it or leave at a time as not to interfere with the school run chums.

As for the negative gender specific comments about Mum's, spatial awareness and them being the bane of the roads. If I was to write that many would be uproar about DDD yet again. Probably would accuse me of being sexist...

Porgy

WheezyMcChubby wrote:

As long as their child is safe, surely thats all that matters

I know you were just being sarcastic but yes, to any parent that is the number one priority, above and beyond anything else.

I used to walk my girl to school and to be frank becasue of a small number of selfish tos.sers driving their kids to school it was a fuc.king nightmare some days.

It came down to fining some of the parnets but because this was Bromley and they could afford the fines they kept doing it - parking right outside the school that is.

If they really cared about their kids they'd make them walk.

As soon as little Nigel gets out into the real world he'll ahve so little road sense - never mind that they may barely know how to walk - they'll end up under the first articulated lorry that drives past.

Porgy

DonDaddyD wrote:

WheezyMcChubby wrote:

Never understood why people who aren't leaving their kids to school would be driving/cycling past the school. Is there only one road in London?

Don't normally agree with you. But +1!

Example: Dulwich. It's on the way to work, won't go through it I ride and or drive around it.

Simples.

Yes technically it would be quicker to go through it, if the schools didn't exist but they do so it's not;.

If i lived on a road with a school or near a school, as I do. I will ride around it or leave at a time as not to interfere with the school run chums.
..

No! It's utter nonsense. If you want to make life hard for yourself then go ahead.

Should I have to stay imprisoned in my house between 8.30 and 9.00 every morning?

Besides I do not ahve an encylopedic knowledge of all the schools in London - anyone who does should definitely be investigated by the police. Given that - and that we all live in the real world - it is inevitable that i cycle past schools occasionally - and as there is one on my Cul De Sac street that i live on - then i have no choice.

School run chaos isn't just limited to the street next to the school anyway - it inevitably spills over to two three streets away. And if you live in one of those streets then it's hellish during term time.

Why can't kids walk anyway?

lost_in_thought

WheezyMcChubby wrote:

Secondly to all those who subscribe to the "school run mum's are a scourge to society" school of thought need to wise up. If this is true why do young men have higher insurance premiums? Also a bit of patience wouldn't go amiss, a majority of school run mum are working mothers who have a days work done before you get your hand off your plonker in the morning.

This perception that school run mums leave their kids to school by car because they are just selfish is nonsense pure and simple.

<snip>

@L-i-T

I think that some mothers have a biological episode once they've had kids that massively reduces their spatial awareness - the school run mum is a menace."

suprised at you, you don't normally post such nonsense.

AFAIK, young men are more likely to have expensive, high-speed accidents. However, women have more accidents per mile driven, yet theirs are more likely to be low-speed and less pricey for Mr Underwriter, I understand. However, the study which concluded that relates to America so perhaps British women are less accident-prone.

I can only comment from my own experience, of course, but the vast majority of cars that behave idiotically towards me on my pretty safe and quiet commute are driven by women with either children or child seats in the back. What's more, a lot of this bad driving takes place near schools and nurseries. I'm sure you can see why I draw the conclusions that I do.

tailwindhome

Let me clarify.

I don't blame the OP for the incident in any way, bad driving is bad driving wether on the school run or otherwise.

I live in the real world and I occasionly do a school run drop off or pick up, I see bad driving on nearly every occasion, double parking right in front of the school, parking on double yellows, not paying enough attention when exiting a space. I have contacted the school and the police on many occasions, I'm glad to say the local police now drive past the school on a regular basis and have issued tickets to offending motorists.

What I object to is the level of smug self satisifed sneering in posters comments, not just this thread but many others.

Example?

If they really cared about their kids they'd make them walk.

As soon as little Nigel gets out into the real world he'll have so little road sense - never mind that they may barely know how to walk - they'll end up under the first articulated lorry that drives past.

I also take exception to the assumption that parent only drive their kids to school because they are selfish. Its nonsense.

Now I'm going to cut the grass and chill out a bit. I will also be contemplating the fact that DDD gave me a +1. I may need to reconsider my position.

tailwindhome

Porgy wrote:

WheezyMcChubby wrote:

Never understood why people who aren't leaving their kids to school would be driving/cycling past the school. Is there only one road in London?

- and as there is one on my Cul De Sac street that i live on - then i have no choice.

That would be a yes then

Porgy

WheezyMcChubby wrote:

What I object to is the level of smug self satisifed sneering in posters comments, not just this thread but many others.

Example?

If they really cared about their kids they'd make them walk.

As soon as little Nigel gets out into the real world he'll have so little road sense - never mind that they may barely know how to walk - they'll end up under the first articulated lorry that drives past.

I also take exception to the assumption that parent only drive their kids to school because they are selfish. Its nonsense.

Now I'm going to cut the grass and chill out a bit. I will also be contemplating the fact that DDD gave me a +1. I may need to reconsider my position.

Not smug and self satisfied - but for 5 years trying to WALK my daughter to school the most significant risk were the other parents (mostly mothers) who thought double parking, ignoring zebra crossing, doing three point turns outside the school, illegally parking outside the school, leaving their engine running, blocking my wife's car in when she wanted to drive to work, etc, etc was OK.

That's selfish.

Tell me - why can't kids walk to school?

Porgy

lost_in_thought wrote:

WheezyMcChubby wrote:

Secondly to all those who subscribe to the "school run mum's are a scourge to society" school of thought need to wise up. If this is true why do young men have higher insurance premiums? Also a bit of patience wouldn't go amiss, a majority of school run mum are working mothers who have a days work done before you get your hand off your plonker in the morning.

This perception that school run mums leave their kids to school by car because they are just selfish is nonsense pure and simple.

<snip>

@L-i-T

I think that some mothers have a biological episode once they've had kids that massively reduces their spatial awareness - the school run mum is a menace."

suprised at you, you don't normally post such nonsense.

AFAIK, young men are more likely to have expensive, high-speed accidents. However, women have more accidents per mile driven, yet theirs are more likely to be low-speed and less pricey for Mr Underwriter, I understand. However, the study which concluded that relates to America so perhaps British women are less accident-prone.

I can only comment from my own experience, of course, but the vast majority of cars that behave idiotically towards me on my pretty safe and quiet commute are driven by women with either children or child seats in the back. What's more, a lot of this bad driving takes place near schools and nurseries. I'm sure you can see why I draw the conclusions that I do.

It's always amusing to see a man accusing a woman of misogyny

tailwindhome

Porgy wrote:

WheezyMcChubby wrote:

What I object to is the level of smug self satisifed sneering in posters comments, not just this thread but many others.

Example?

If they really cared about their kids they'd make them walk.

As soon as little Nigel gets out into the real world he'll have so little road sense - never mind that they may barely know how to walk - they'll end up under the first articulated lorry that drives past.

I also take exception to the assumption that parent only drive their kids to school because they are selfish. Its nonsense.

Now I'm going to cut the grass and chill out a bit. I will also be contemplating the fact that DDD gave me a +1. I may need to reconsider my position.

Not smug and self satisfied - but for 5 years trying to WALK my daughter to school the most significant risk were the other parents (mostly mothers) who thought double parking, ignoring zebra crossing, doing three point turns outside the school, illegally parking outside the school, leaving their engine running, blocking my wife's car in when she wanted to drive to work, etc, etc was OK.

That's selfish.

Tell me - why can't kids walk to school?

Can't speak for others but my kids are 4 and 6 and the schools 5 mile away.

Just noticed you have used CAPITALS, obviously I must therefore be wrong.

This grass isn't going to cut itself.

tailwindhome

Porgy wrote:

It's always amusing to see a man accusing a woman of misogyny

I didn't accuse L-i-T of anything other than the fact that her statement was nonsense and quite out of character.

lost_in_thought

WheezyMcChubby wrote:

Porgy wrote:

It's always amusing to see a man accusing a woman of misogyny

I didn't accuse L-i-T of anything other than the fact that her statement was nonsense and quite out of character.

No, I agree, you didn't... hopefully I've addressed those points.

Porgy

WheezyMcChubby wrote:

Porgy wrote:

WheezyMcChubby wrote:

What I object to is the level of smug self satisifed sneering in posters comments, not just this thread but many others.

Example?

If they really cared about their kids they'd make them walk.

As soon as little Nigel gets out into the real world he'll have so little road sense - never mind that they may barely know how to walk - they'll end up under the first articulated lorry that drives past.

I also take exception to the assumption that parent only drive their kids to school because they are selfish. Its nonsense.

Now I'm going to cut the grass and chill out a bit. I will also be contemplating the fact that DDD gave me a +1. I may need to reconsider my position.

Not smug and self satisfied - but for 5 years trying to WALK my daughter to school the most significant risk were the other parents (mostly mothers) who thought double parking, ignoring zebra crossing, doing three point turns outside the school, illegally parking outside the school, leaving their engine running, blocking my wife's car in when she wanted to drive to work, etc, etc was OK.

That's selfish.

Tell me - why can't kids walk to school?

Can't speak for others but my kids are 4 and 6 and the schools 5 mile away.

Just noticed you have used CAPITALS, obviously I must therefore be wrong.

This grass isn't going to cut itself.

Exactly - you can't speak for others - I know all those parents at my school weren't driving 5 miles - some of them lived closer than we did.

so you drive straight up tot he school do you?
leave your engine running?
ignore zebra crossings?
double park?
block cycle lanes?

cos if you do then you're selfish.

and if you don't i'm not talking about you - you REALLY DO NEED TO CHILL OUT.

cut your fu'cking grass and stop getting worked up about nothing. Your children need you. :roll:

Soul Boy

WheezyMcChubby

Yes I was, a bit of a flippant remark. But isn't this just another case of FU London, in FU Britain? As long as me and mine are ok you can all f-off?

Lost count of how many times have I been cut up with a car with a 'Baby Onboard' warning. Everyone out of my way, I have a baby!

I'm alright Jack :evil: I'm off to hog the centre of the road.

rhext

I too pass a school. The problem appears to me to be simply the fact that school-run parents generally speaking are concentrating very hard on several different things, driving not being one of them! Yes, most of them are moms, but that's because it seems to be mostly moms who get to take the kids to school. I don't see any evidence that the few dads doing it are driving any better than the moms. I don't think that you're ever going to get them to concentrate better, but a bit of rule enforcement (esp on no-parking zones) would certainly help make things safer.

I tend to subscribe to the view which says 'assume they're going to do something really really stupid and you probably won't be disappointed'. But it's still (marginally) safer to go past the school than the three-lane roundabout I'd have to negotiate otherwise. At least the traffic calming and preponderance of other loony drivers tends to keep the speeds down, so if one of them does take you out you've got more chance of walking away.

jonginge

Soul Boy wrote:

WheezyMcChubby

Yes I was, a bit of a flippant remark. But isn't this just another case of FU London, in FU Britain? As long as me and mine are ok you can all f-off?

Lost count of how many times have I been cut up with a car with a 'Baby Onboard' warning. Everyone out of my way, I have a baby!

I'm alright Jack :evil: I'm off to hog the centre of the road.

I always assumed that was referring to the driver :oops:

rhext

...and my advice to the OP....

I'd recommend a note to the school, not singling out the mother but letting them know about the incident with an observation about the obvious risk to kids. Ask them to let you know what they're doing about the obvious health-and-safety risk.

If you put things like that in writing, it's quite difficult for the school to ignore: should they do so and the worst happens it can help build a negligence case. It ought to prompt a conversation with the local constabulary to determine whether there is a significant risk and what enforcement action might be appropriate.

deffler

School run mums are a law unto themselves. Why do they insist on people carriers or 4x4's which are too big for them?

One of my many hobbies is sitting in supermarket carparks watching mums trying to park or get out of parking spaces in their too big for them vehicles, they should only be allowed to drive mini metro's. lol

Glad the OP wasnt hurt, sounds a close call.

rhext

Speaking for myself, the reason for a people-carrier is because we have 6 people plus luggage to carry! Wouldn't take it within 100 yards of a school though! If we have to take them in the car, they get out well away from the school gates and walk!

Jay dubbleU

Had a similar encounter a couple of weeks ago - woman delivering kids sat in the middle of the road in an SUV - parked vehicles on either side which left me about 18ins on one side to get through - waited behind her for a couple of minutes but she was totally oblivious - having delivered the kids she was sittling in the middle of the road playing with her mobile - I squeezed past and in doing so caught her mirror at which point she screamed at me "Don't touch my car" - I smiled at her (that always confuses them) and said 'Wait till you see what my pannier buckles have done to your paintwork - hadn't touched it of course but she was getting out of the car (presumably to check) as I rode off :twisted:

thelawnet

WheezyMcChubby wrote:

Never understood why people who aren't leaving their kids to school would be driving/cycling past the school. Is there only one road in London?

Secondly to all those who subscribe to the "school run mum's are a scourge to society" school of thought need to wise up. If this is true why do young men have higher insurance premiums? Also a bit of patience wouldn't go amiss, a majority of school run mum are working mothers who have a days work done before you get your hand off your plonker in the morning.

Do you have the figures to show that most are working? At my son's school there are two pick-up times, either at 3:30 or, if you're working, at 6pm. The biggest problem is not at 6pm from the working parents going to pick up children, but people turning up at 3:15 on the dot, standing in the playground gossiping, and then driving home.

The fact is round my son's school people park illegally and inconsiderately, annoying the residents so much that their cars are frequently vandalised (and this is on a street of £1million houses, this is not some rough council estate)

This perception that school run mums leave their kids to school by car because they are just selfish is nonsense pure and simple.

Most of the mothers at my son's school don't work. There are two on our road that nearly always drive. And no, they don't work. And it's less than a mile to walk, or to cycle. They should get the exercise. And so should their kids.

Sorry if this post is a bit of a rant but I'm sick of the bullshit posts on this forum maligning the non cycling world.

People do behave very inconsiderately on school runs. There is far too much unnecessary traffic (most of them, at least here, could walk or cycle), people scrabbling to park closer to the school, regardless of whether it's advisable to do so, etc. Yes they are antisocial.

As a matter of fact people behave inconsiderately everywhere. Had to go to A&E today, some c*nt was parked in the place marked 'Ambulance only' no parking. Why? Because he didn't want to pay the £2 for parking.

benno68

Porgy - you did well keeping calm, always the best way.

The stress of getting rid of the kids as soon as possible drives (no pun intended) many to unusual behaviour which is difficult to explain - any budding Desmond Morris's about?

Maybe a letter to the local police would be in order suggesting that they visit the location at 9am, 3 points and a fixed penalty may help the selfish drivers to consider their actions. Copy the school in on it with the emphasis on the safey of the school children.

@WheezyMcChubby - I don't feel sorry for the people who are driving without any consideration for anyone else around (except their own) - their way of life is their choice.

Also - we are on a cycling forum so having a rant when some stupid idiot has nearly caused you injury is to be expected, isn't it?