Kids on bicycles racing down the footpath

[PrincessBandit]

Just out of curiosity, has anyone else had near misses with kids (in the 6 - 10 year old bracket basically) almost clobber them as you've been leaving your driveway - either in the car or on your motorbike?

Three days after my accident I was driving out of our r.o.w. driveway when 3 teenagers came haring down out street on the footpath and headed into our drive and smack into the bonnet of my car. (Only the one in front actually became a hood ornament). He was unhurt apart from squashed nuts but he left a dent in my bonnet and bad scratches in the paint work. His mates, of course, "saw nothing" and he challenged me with "you can't prove that damage wasn't there before I hit the front of your car". (little shit).

This afternoon as hubby and I were heading out to the shops two kiddies aged about 8 years old nearly got up close and personal with the drivers door in a similar fashion. I wound my window down and reminded them that cars do come in and out of driveways. These kids had no helmets on and were racing each other on the footpath. Thankfully we exit our driveway slowly as the neighbours fence and hedge make it impossible for us to see anything coming at speed down the footpath.

It got me wondering, who would be held responsible in the event of one of these kids getting hurt by ploughing into the side of your car while doing this? I realise that apportioning blame is of no consolation if a kid gets hurt or killed in this manner but if a driver has taken all care with low speed and checking for obstacles (including mothers with pushchairs, kids on skateboards etc.) what happens if one of them still hits you? In the first case with me, the kid actually rode at full tit up into our drive way (being r.o.w. there is not gate at the footpath end of the drive) mistakenly thinking it was the driveway to the church next door. If I'd been on my motorbike the collision would have been pretty disastrous for both of us. At least for my part it was only the car that was damaged, but what does one do about irresponsible kids who are simply behaving thoughtlessly (as kids do) in situations like this?

[Katman]

but what does one do about irresponsible kids who are simply behaving thoughtlessly (as kids do) in situations like this?

They'll probably be riding motorcycles soon.

Leave them to me.

[SMOKEU]

It's illegal to ride a push bike on a footpath unless the rider is delivering mail or a marked cycle lane is part of the footpath. The cyclist will be the one who gets the blame (legally) in the event of a collision.

[Berries]

You'll feel shit regardless of who is responsible. Can't you speak to the neighbour and get the fence cut back a bit ? Tell them it could be their kids next.

[Smifffy]

He was unhurt apart from squashed nuts but he left a dent in my bonnet and bad scratches in the paint work. His mates, of course, "saw nothing" and he challenged me with "you can't prove that damage wasn't there before I hit the front of your car". (little shit).

"You just admitted hitting my car, I can hold you responsible for any damage"

Not that it would do any good. Hopefully there was enough damage to his nuts to prevent him from ever procreating more little shits, but that would be too much to ask I guess.

[bogan]

"You just admitted hitting my car, I can hold you responsible for any damage"

Not that it would do any good. Hopefully there was enough damage to his nuts to prevent him from ever procreating more little shits, but that would be too much to ask I guess.

nah just kick him in the guts, then if he complains say it happened when he hit your car

not sure on liability, but delivery scoots have to keep it under 10kmhr on footpaths iirc. Which makes sense as there are tonnes of blind driveways. We lived next to one a few years ago, one lady there always gave the horn a beep when leaving, cud be an idea.

[Smokin]

Buy a Landcruiser and get prybar for getting the bikes out of the grill.

[Cayman911]

It's illegal to ride a push bike on a footpath unless the rider is delivering mail or a marked cycle lane is part of the footpath. The cyclist will be the one who gets the blame (legally) in the event of a collision.

i rode on the footpath 100% of the time. i never wore a helmet 100% of the time. its what all the kids do. and im pretty sure thats what you did too. all this hippie jibberish about off footpath and helmet is rubbish.
no mother is gonna let their kid ride on the road. nor would the kid be stupid enough to do so.

sorry to hear about what happen. its an accident , it happens. but the part that bothers me and most probably annoyed you is the fact that they tried to get out from under the blame. that would piss me off too. in fact i'd aim for them next time. be like " oh you cant prove your face wasnt already in between the radiator fans of my car all burnt and shredded" oh and yes the kids would have to pay for your repairs, well the parents.

[maggot]

I was one of those kids not too long ago, bloody regret it like crazy. Dumb fucking kid I was. After I ended up bumping into a lady exiting a fish and chip shop, knocking her down, going head over bars and half-killing myself with no helmet I quickly learnt my lesson.
Problem is it's that common invincible mentality of kids, that takes a good sharp shock to clear up.

[mashman]

Even as a little kid we used to blast around on the pavement. I didn't do it so much after a purple van pulled out of a garage alleyway and i rammed into the side of it. Woke up on the couch, driver gave me 50p, i struggled to my feet and bought 10 packets of football sticker. Ended up on BMX's instead and battered ourselves that way, still with no helmet. There's just sooo much traffic around these days it ain't safe on the road. Maybe that;s what happened

It's been going on for years, perhaps pedestrians should start wearing helmets too.

[schrodingers cat]

I realise that apportioning blame is of no consolation if a kid gets hurt or killed in this manner but ...

OK - repeat after me. Fuck them.

Who ever said life was fair or that we will all die peacefully in bed?

Life has consequences. Enough hand ringing.

Once again. Fuck them. And the horse they rode in on.

[Donor]

A rake handle through the spokes works with high efficiency.

[marty]

nah just kick him in the guts, then if he complains say it happened when he hit your car

not sure on liability, but delivery scoots have to keep it under 10kmhr on footpaths iirc. Which makes sense as there are tonnes of blind driveways. We lived next to one a few years ago, one lady there always gave the horn a beep when leaving, cud be an idea.

Or, punch him in the face, and say 'you can't prove that your nose wasn't bleeding from crashing into my car...'

[AllanB]

Kids have been doing this forever, maybe you should be asking yourself why you were not paying more attention when exiting your driveway.

I've kids and I started them biking on the footpath - FFS the road is too dangerous for new cyclists! I also tried to teach them to be aware of driveways. As a driver/rider I am always very careful exiting a drive.

It's not just kids on bikes it's people walking dogs, skateboarding and love struck teenagers.

[Virago]

...These kids had no helmets on and were racing each other on the footpath...

The laws on this are quite clear - must wear a helmet, don't ride on the footpath. But strangly enough, a large proportion of cyclists (including adults) seem to think that those two laws cancel each other out - i.e. you don't need to wear a helmet if you ride on the footpath.

Kids will always do this kind of thing. Unfortunately the days are gone when parents would take responsibility for their kids' actions and damage caused - these days not only will the kids tell you to fuck off, the parents will also.