London Banter - View Single Post

Colin Rosenstiel · July 3rd 05, 08:05 PM posted to uk.transport.london

In article ,
(Martyn Drake) wrote:

On Thu, 30 Jun 2005 16:25 +0100 (BST), Colin Rosenstiel wrote:

You never used a buggy or similar vehicle?

I was never a fan of buggies when I was small. I kept getting out and
wanted to walk alongside my mum. I was always a keen walker from an
early age. Whilst it's great to see kids with their mums on a shopping
trip, I do think it's worth considering that one of the problems is that
some people seem to think the bigger the buggy, the happier and safer
the child will be. Not always the case.

Most of them ARE ridiciously overcomplicated (and expensive to boot)
beasties which could be replaced by lighter, more practical models. I've
nothing against buggies per sae, but I do have a problem of seeing
parents using impractical, expensive and needlessly huge monsters which
tend to get in everybody's way.

Don't get me started on the buggy society. My wife and I are cyclists and
used the bikes to carry the children until they rode their own or walked.
Shopping centres round here allow buggies in to access shops like
Mothercare or the Early Learning Centre but don't allow bikes to do the
same, even when performing the same role! Young children have quite short
walking ranges as well as being easier to control in a buggy or seat.
Buggies are no use for cycling parents but the children have to be got
closer to the individual shops than our car-obsessed society, assuming
buggies, will allow. Grrr!

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Colin Rosenstiel