If The Law's An Ass, What Are The Enforcers?

[wired]

Police in Grantham threaten to confiscate 4 year olds bike because she was riding on the pavement.earlier in the week it was stated that police were cautioning some criminals instead of arresting them , it seems we have strangely selective law enforcers.

[Mamyalynne]

'She'

[Jackdaw33]

In 1955 I would have got life imprisonment for for walking the streets in my Davy Crockett outfit and brandishing my penny cap gun.

[Mamyalynne]

I used to carry a sharpened steel comb in my boots whilst walking to roller skating - I'd be in a cell too.

[Jackdaw33]

During my brief time in the Boy Scouts it was essential to carry a sheath knife.

[sandyRoe]

If the police could confiscate bikes from adults cycling on pavements, would that be supported?

[Mosaic]

I agree it seems petty - but just a word of caution about accepting reporting as always being balanced. I've seen kids allowed (even encouraged) to ram people's legs from behind with their teeny bikes. Now if challenged, the parents in charge would say it was an accident, you're over-reacting etc, and it will all happen again to someone else. As long as we're sure the parents in question aren't in this category then yes, a definite case of overplodding.

[ummmm]

You've really witnessed children encouraged to ram people by their parents?

[Gromit]

// ...the officer pulled over and said she had to get off," he said. //

The police office was patrolling sat on his fat *** in a car. Perhaps if he walked his beat, or god forbid, even cycled, he might do his job better.

[ummmm]

If you don't live close to a park how is a 4 year old suppose to learn how to ride a bike? Surely they aren't expected to ride on the road...

I live close to 3 primary schools and often see kids riding their bikes/scooters on the path.

[EDDIE51]

Would you let a 4 year old cycle in the cycle lanes? here they are just 18 inches wide on the side of a very busy road! Nothing to separate them from traffic. If I had a 4 year old on a bike with me I would keep him/her on the pavement but under control and told to watch out for people walking.

[Peter Pedant]

// I used to carry a sharpened steel comb in my boots whilst walking to roller skating - I'd be in a cell too.//
Mama

you narty girl ! - yes definitely against the then legislation ( Offensive Weapons 1936 I think .... it was all such a long time ago )

In 1921 my grandmother when asked what she would do if attacked by a ruffian said : " I always have my hat-pin ! "

[Peter Pedant]

Has got onto the national news

I think the mothers point on tee vee is valid - I bring up my children to look to the police as protectors

and not that they will make a 4 y o feel like a criminal ( and then verbal them )


clearly a light day for news

[Peter Pedant]

Father on teevee confirms that there was a threat ( intended course of action ) to confiscate the bike.

Another says it is lawful to ride a bike on a pavement if the wheels are less than 18" diameter

a police spokesperson on the tee-vee tried to inject a vein of plain old British common-sense into all this when he said:

“if the officer deemed it necessary to award a caution as he did, then so be it !” ( Beeb 10 29)

[ludwig]

// During my brief time in the Boy Scouts it was essential to carry a sheath knife. //

Same here. Our cub hut was on a really rough estate.

[EDDIE51]

Small bikes are actually called 'Pavement Cycles'
http://www.gumtree.com/p/bicycles/junior-pavement-cycle-raleigh-for-children-3-5-years-old-and-parts-bag-contains..../1027266963

[chaptazbru2]

I have no objections whatsoever to little kids riding their bikes on pavements, it's the adults who do it that get on my nerves and yes sandy, I would support the police confiscating their bikes - not going to happen though !

[mccfluff]

why would any sensible adult want a 4 year old riding their bike on the road, cycle lane or not?

[Hypognosis]

What surprises me is that this was not a case if riding for play, it was their daily, routine, trip to school. The bike had stabilisers and I am wondering if they've given her the bike because she has complained of becoming tired out by the walking.

fwiw, because cycling is so much more energy-efficient than walking, she is burning off fewer calories by riding instead of walking ie she is getting less actual exercise this way, because the mileage is fixed (the idea with bikes is to travel far, after all).

[Mosaic]

In Japan everyone is happy with bikes being ridden on pavements by adults and kids alike, but everyone is also ferociously poilite and considerate. Umm asked (above) if I'd really experienced being rammed by a kid on a bike - yes, actually also had a woman try to get her littlun to pedal fast as poss into my legs from behind. Just after setting her dog on me. Because I asked her not to let the dog (rottweiler) jump up at me. Takes all sorts.