Random stupid mom sighting

[jenjenfirenjen]

Seen today on a busy road near my house: A mom riding a bike with an infant strapped to her chest in a Snugli. I nearly drove off the road when I saw it. Am I the only one this strikes as a very bad idea???

[elliput]

Reading this gave me shivers. I agree- very bad idea. Were either of them wearing helmets, or considering the situation am I just asking a really *dumb* question?

[jennabear]

Shivers here too. Wow.

[jayali]

Wow, how incredibly dangerous. I wonder if she uses a carseat when driving a car????

[brittone2]

I've heard that is very common in certain European countries...I want to say it was someplace like the Netherlands or somewhere similar.

It strikes me as a very bad idea but apparently it is common in some places.

[jenjenfirenjen]

No helmets on either. Not that I think they even make a helmet for an infant that small. Oh, and she driving the bike one handed while she supported the infant's head with her other hand. Eek!

[daniele_ut]

Defintely strikes me as a bad idea, though I saw a man riding a bike on one of the busiest streets in SLC last week with a child in a backpack. They weren't wearing helmets either.

I just read an article last week written by a woman who owned a house only accessible by snowmobile in the winter and she spent her baby's first several winters bringing the baby to and from town on a snowmobile in a sling. Yikes!

I also saw several people in the Netherlands riding bikes with babies in Snuglis.

[heidiann]

It sounds down right dangerous to me.

Heidi
Mom to Jillian 10/20/05

[kijip]

It sounds dangerous but so is driving a car at all.

[mamato1]

Aside for the fact that this seems incredibly dangerous, I can't stop thinking that her back must be killing her!

Chris

Mama to Brendan (aka Boomer) 01/04


http://b3.lilypie.com/FnI6m5/.png

[maestramommy]

Just want to chime in that in Taiwan I've seen a family of 4 on a motorscooter. You know, one of those Honda things that were so popular in the late 80's. Mom and Dad on the seat, one kid standing in front, and sometimes one kid standing ON THE SEAT in back holding on to mom's shoulders. No helmets either. Very few people own cars in Taiwan, so the scooter is the main mode of transport (besides the bus). This is a very common sight when there are no seatbelt/helmet laws. If we took DD to Taiwan I'm not even sure if there would be anything to strap her carseat in.

[psophia17]

It's very common in the Netherlands, but there they also have dedicated bike lanes (like a sidewalk for bikes) on almost all the roads plus the culture is tied to riding bikes in a way the States never has been.

Is it the best idea ever? Well...no. But it could be worse...

[HoneymoonBaby]

Oh! Oh! This reminds me! I saw a stupid FAMILY at Five Guys a few months ago, took a picture but had no one to share it with.

Here, in all his glory, is the stupidest dad ever, carrying his adorable two or three month old daughter in a carseat carrier HOOKED OVER HIS SHOULDER BY NOTHING MORE THAN THE LITTLE HANDLE INDENT THINGY. I kid you not. There's a baby in there.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v386/KAHMEH/crazydad.jpg

[jenjenfirenjen]

Oh my, that is bad! I can't believe you got a pic.

[marinkitty]

Well, maybe she can get a spot in Britney's playgroup!

Holly
Mom to Mia (3.17.03) and baby brother Jack (3.23.05)

[elliput]

ROFL!

[HoneymoonBaby]

Yeah, DH was with me and verrrrry slyly held the camera down at waist level, pointed upward to get the shot. I didn't want to be seen snapping pictures of a stranger, but I knew no one would ever understand what I was talking about without photographic evidence. We were floored, the mom was even there and seemed totally okay with it. Visions of a tiny baby head cracking on the linoleum danced through my head and I had a hard time finishing my lunch.

[elliput]

The sad thing is that guy probably thought he was being extraordinarily clever. :-(

[american_mama]

I've seen it done several times in Belgium, another big biking country.

[zuzu]

nt

[Rachels]

That made my jaw drop.

-Rachel
Mama to Abigail Rose
5/18/02
http://www.gynosaur.com/assets/ribbons/ribbon_amethyst_36m.gif
Nursed for three years!

and Ethan James
10/19/05
http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/bf.jpg


"When you know better, you do better."
Maya

[sadie_beth_1124]

That guy looks like Richard Marx.

Goodness I hope the girl was strapped in...