Of Cats and Kids

Sounds that shouldn't be

Posted by: Carol Lombardi

Wednesday, September 20, 2006 9:36 PM

There are sounds in the world that no ears should have to hear, and a child bicyclist who was just struck by a vehicle is way up there on the list.

I had to hear that today. I didn't see the accident, but was coming out of a cross street shortly after it happened and clearly heard the shrieks of an injured child, followed by the sirens of a fire truck and ambulance. There were more people stopped than necessary, so I changed my direction, turned the other way and went around the block so I could go get my daughter at school.

On one hand I was extremely grateful she didn't have to see or hear any of it, but on the other hand, there was a valuable lesson to be learned.

We have seen that particular group of kids before (the others were watching their fallen comrade in horror from the sidewalk.)

We see them often, actually, careening carelessly on a major four-lane street near a busy intersection, paying no attention to cars, safety or traffic rules, laughing hysterically when petrified drivers screech to a stop to avoid them, darting across in the middle of the street between cars, balancing on the double yellow lines with two or three kids on a bike.

I've even seen other drivers take the time to slow down and caution them, only to be greeted by a hand signal that doesn't show up in any book on the rules of the road.

There should be a picture of this accident in the dictionary next to the word, "avoidable."

Since day one of her bike ownership days, I've taught my daughter that cars are bigger and stronger than bikes, and if there is a competition, the bike will always lose - and she should always assume that the cars are not paying attention. She will not be permitted to ride anywhere by herself until I am confident that she knows those rules -and even then I will find a way to check up on her.

Parents, for God's sake, if you're going to buy your child a bike, splurge on the time it takes to teach them the right way to use it. Check up on them once in a while, to see where they are and what they are doing with it. And don't forget the helmet.

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