The Chainlink

MUSING: Parents of dubious qualifications

In one block of affluent, educated Lincoln Sq, I encountered a father crossing a dangerous part of Western, telling a boy on a Skoot pushbike, "You gotta pedal, pedal, pedal!"

 

And then a mother with a toddler in a rear bike seat, which was rocking dangerously rearward with every pedal crank. I stopped her and showed her what was happening, and helped her fix it. She blamed it on the seat. The attachment wasn't complicated, she just hadn't bothered to check that the seat carrying her most precious cargo was actually attached.

 

Observation: Just 'cause your equipment down below works well enough to make 'em, doesn't necessarily mean the equipment up above works well enough to keep 'em alive....

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Permalink Reply by in it to win it 8.0 mi on May 23, 2011 at 12:01pm
Amen. Last winter saw a lady on a dark bike with dark clothes and no light going wrong way on Sheridan at night. Icy road. Little baby in back seat...
Permalink Reply by Tank-Ridin' Ryan on May 23, 2011 at 12:06pm

Observation: Just 'cause your equipment down below works well enough to make 'em, doesn't necessarily mean the equipment up above works well enough to keep 'em alive....

 

Well put.

Permalink Reply by Ash L. on May 23, 2011 at 3:31pm
I put the helmet on my baybay so she'll bounce right back up.
Permalink Reply by Mike Zumwalt on May 23, 2011 at 6:30pm

Affluence is also no indication of smarts.

Money can buy a lot but not problem solving, attention to detail, lateral thinking etc...

Permalink Reply by Gin on May 23, 2011 at 6:55pm

Those are certainly worrisome examples. It's great that you were able to help the woman with the bike seat problem. Your example of the family crossing Western feels familiar to me.  When crossing busy streets with Miguel either on foot or bike I feel a great sense of urgency to make it across in time. But, sometimes you just need to cross a busy road to get to the proverbial other side. What was wrong about where they were crossing?  I don't understand the pedal, pedal, pedal comment--there were no pedals, right? Hmmm. Hence your comment? :)

 

Of course, dubious decision making happens across all sectors and modes.  People when driving also make mistakes with child restraint systems, but those mistakes are not usually as visible to bystanders. Indeed,  motor vehicle injuries are the leading cause of death among children in the U.S. http://www.cdc.gov/ncipc/factsheets/childpas.htm

Permalink Reply by Far'arned Retrogrumpalunkus #63 on May 23, 2011 at 9:16pm
This is scary.  Next they will want to pass some more laws.  That should fix the problem.
Permalink Reply by Old Tom on May 23, 2011 at 9:44pm
Yeah, we were better off when measles, whooping cough and diptheria were the leading causes of death to children.
Permalink Reply by Kohaku on May 24, 2011 at 8:47pm

The are clueless idiots everywhere.  I never doubt this but I'm always willing to help/educate.  I'm willing to be helped/educated.

You did good.  We all need to do good.

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