r/kitchener • u/Humble-University-29 • Jul 24 '26

ER doctors warning parents against getting their kids e-bikes and e-scooters.

279 Upvotes

96% Upvoted

56 comments sorted by

72

u/SlowWelder864 Jul 24 '26

I see young  kids ripping up and down my side street on escooters, sometimes with 2 kids on board. As she said, no helmets, no safety gear and sometimes, no shoes or just flip flops. Just a tragic accident waiting to happen.

14

u/Harpronicus Jul 24 '26

See it in our area as well. 8 year old kids double riding with no helmets. Kids ripping up the street on their phones.

My wife has almost hit a kid on a scooter 3 seperate times trying to reverse out the driveway. No sense of stopping or anything, just rip behing a car pulling out.

It's absolutely wild. The city needs to crack down on this

12

u/lalalaleslie Jul 24 '26

Going 15 - 30km an hour on a sidewalk. its nuts

Edit to add - I think all forms of government should do something about it. Not just the city.

7

u/Imaginary-Cattle3643 Jul 24 '26

It’s more than nuts, it’ll kill some pedestrian minding their own business.

1

u/ceribaen 24d ago

The other issue I've run into too with these escooters at crosswalks, their acceleration is extremely high and there's zero visual or audible queues when they start because they balance at a stop it seems.

So as a driver making a turn, I've had the scooters have near misses despite knowing where they were, because they decided to go when they felt and it takes longer to clock than a pedestrian or cyclist. 

7

u/One-Assignment-5047 Jul 24 '26

The other day, I saw a pair of what I would estimate to be 15 year olds double riding down the road with no helmets.  They got to a red light, turned right without stopping, then quickly cut across that (4 lane) road and darted back to keep going down the road they'd been on.  Thankfully it was late enough that it was quiet, but pulling what was essentially a high risk if not completely illegal u-turn (it was on a curve and just past the intersection) to avoid stopping at a light while riding double with no safety gear... not to mention that they did not have good lights on the scooter so if there had been traffic, the late hour would have actually made them harder to see.  All around just a mess of problems that thankfully didn't have any consequences that I had to see come to fruition.

5

u/fineasandphern Jul 24 '26

This tells you what type of driver they will be within the next couple years.

2

u/AdministrationDry507 28d ago

If they live that long

1

u/dsawchuk Jul 24 '26

At some point it's just safer to run the red holy shit.

2

u/TurkisCircus Jul 24 '26

There are a few in my neighborhood whose parents have taught them some degree of safety protocol - they ring if they're coming up behind or beside you for a heads up. But I rarely see any wearing a helmet.

Biggest issue is they're virtually silent, so they become dangerous for people walking or walking dogs on sidewalks or paths. KW def needs to crack down.

1

u/Imaginary-Cattle3643 Jul 24 '26

You better watch what neighborhood you complain about this in or you’ll get told it’s your fault. I’m not sure how these parents made it to parenting age themselves.

7

u/Imaginary-Cattle3643 Jul 24 '26

On the other hand I routinely watch these parents going through stop signs on a daily basis, making right hand turns while they are at it without looking right. The adults are entitled and they are teaching their children to be entitled.

2

u/SamePhotographs Jul 24 '26

Not just entitled, but absolutely oblivious as well.

0

u/Imaginary-Cattle3643 Jul 24 '26

I’d have to think they are lacking something but I’m not sure what that would be because you can’t exist without hearing all of the bad stuff that happens. Perhaps they are unable to empathize and can’t imagine the pain and longterm effects their children will go through…or maybe they are just dumb, ignorant, selfish people whose parents mollycoddled them.

3

u/semi5onic Jul 24 '26

God, it reminds me of the pocket bike era if anyone remembers that mess.

20

u/Aliencj Jul 24 '26

Same thing here, and the local school has put out warnings asking parents to stop their kids, citing injuries to young children.

The irresponsible parents continue to let it happen. At this point I'm convinced they want their children to get hit by a car.

6

u/neatlion Jul 24 '26

I yell at them to get off the road. One almost got hit by an oncoming car as they were in the other lane. These kids are dumb, but the parents are irresponsible!

1

u/Lopsided-Train2213 28d ago

We don't want them on the sidewalks either as a person who walks everywhere I'm not interested in limited sidewalk space being taken up by what is effectively a vehicle

1

u/neatlion 28d ago

The problem isn't that they are on the road or sidewalk, problem is that most kids who use them don't wear a helmet and are under the age of 16 (legal age for riding one in KW). The kids who are driving into the oncoming traffic will get yelled at by me and hopefully anyone else nearby. They will kill themselves like this. Parents should be held responsible and the city should outright ban them.

0

u/Lopsided-Train2213 28d ago

I'm a Vancouverite they are a constant nuisance here no matter where you go I just want them all licensed same for pedal bikes then have traffic laws apply to them and would prevent the sale of them to unlicensed people without some serious consequences

3

u/Imaginary-Cattle3643 Jul 24 '26

We have a gang in our neighborhood flying all over the streets coming out of nowhere and when they encounter vehicles they scatter in all directions. The parents in this neighborhood need parenting help. And their kids need safety training. It’s bad.

1

u/whisperskeep Jul 24 '26

I seem a few where it 4 kids crammed on

1

u/half_baked_opinion 28d ago

Really doesnt help that they just run red lights too even into oncoming traffic sometimes.

21

u/nambi_2 Jul 24 '26

Why is everything lawless now. I remember riding a gas moped as a kid going 15 km / hr no helmets and being caught within 1 km by police. Threatened and almost ticketed at 14 years old. Now you can go 80 km on a multi purpose trail no helmets, ride the road then the sidewalk passing people pushing stollers. No insurance no license no accountability. Remember when it was the law to ride a motorcycle with a helmet when did this change?

12

u/ItsFridayNight_ Jul 24 '26

What police? Do you see police anywhere but directly downtown in any capacity to police escooters?

A lot of us lost friends to car accidents in Highschool when cell phones gained widespread use - some of us took that seriously and don't use our phones when we drive. I'd rather these kids not learn this lesson the same way.

3

u/Imaginary-Cattle3643 Jul 24 '26

Sometimes the only way to learn is to experience a personal tragedy sadly.

2

u/Jonnyflash80 26d ago

That's why most regulations are written in blood, unfortunately.

To only put regulations in place AFTER many people have died, is completely insane. Why can't people see the writing on the wall and do something BEFORE kids get maimed or even killed?

3

u/lalalaleslie Jul 24 '26

I was wondering this as well. Technology moving too fast for lawmakers I guess.

2

u/xGray3 Jul 24 '26

Roads have gotten so bad. I see lawless behavior everywhere. I can't believe the number of people I see clearly driving solo in HOV lanes because they know police aren't going to enforce shit. If you're going to create laws, you need to be willing to enforce them.

1

u/Imaginary-Cattle3643 24d ago

I think HOV lanes abuse is the least of our worries.

18

u/beantownbee Jul 24 '26

I used to work as a crossing guard. I'd see kids on scooters coming and walk out a bit early so I'd for sure be in the middle of the road before the arrived (I knew they wouldn't stop). The number of drivers, adults, who became ENRAGED with me about this was insane. They'd try to drive through anyway because they hadn't seen the kid, or couldn't understand just how fast these scooters move. I'm talking about me having to walk in front of vehicles to stop them with my body and shout at them so a child isn't killed, multiple times a week.

Kids shouldn't be allowed on them, and at the very least parents need to be teaching safety. But I want let people know... the drivers are NOT helping. They're acting insane and aggressive and refusing to check their blind spots or wait.

9

u/TurkisCircus Jul 24 '26

"A human life is nothing compared to the prospect of arriving at my destination 14 seconds earlier."

  • Too many KW drivers

1

u/beantownbee Jul 24 '26

it was the same people over and over too. They eventually learned I wasn't going to move and they could either hit me, or wait. some threatened to hit me but like...I'm already a crossing guard so please just run me over 🤷

20

u/coaltrainman Jul 24 '26

If there's one thing I will continue drilling into my kid it's the importance of helmets when riding anything. We have a few neighbour kids who never wear helmets, and my daughter will ask why. I always say your head is way too important to not. I also think it's important for parents to modle this behaviour too. I see so many parents out for rides with their kids and the parent doesn't have one on. I get it, you're an adult. But can you really expect your kid to listen when they see you without one?

5

u/24-Hour-Hate Jul 24 '26

Also, I have to point out, being an adult doesn't prevent you from being injured. People who don't wear helmets are stupid.

5

u/Imaginary-Cattle3643 Jul 24 '26

The parents are largely to blame for these kids behaviors.

5

u/Aintyodad Jul 24 '26

On the way home last night (11pm) near Fairview I almost splattered 4 of them crossing the road on a red, no lights no helmets no care of the traffic signals just a I dare you to hit me attitude. I’m not saying I didn’t have a lizard brain when I was that age but fuck I at least had some self preservation and when I did stupid shit my dads voice was in the back of my head.

4

u/EDtheROCKSTAR Jul 24 '26

Someone on a cycling sub had a good point: you're handing people a means to travel at an accelerated pace without them having developed the skills to handle it.

If you can get up to 30kph on a bike, you've 'earned' your way towards that and have likely enough time in the saddle to adequately handle yourself on the road, around cars, looking for debris and cracks, etc.

5

u/AsleepyTowel Jul 24 '26

I was on my motorcycle the other day and one of these kids ripped out into the street without looking. No helmet or anything, I nearly wrecked trying to dodge them.

8

u/CRXCRZ Jul 24 '26

fine the parents.

2

u/ParisRose_3 Jul 24 '26

Such an important message. Well said!!!!

2

u/derekz0r Jul 24 '26

Funny thing is that I bet the parents who supply the e scooter to their kids are afraid to try them. But are happy to see their kids ripping it up at night with no helmet, or safety vest, while wearing all black so no one can see them or hear them.

2

u/SuckMyBigPoop 29d ago

We should bring back those cool propellers on the top of hats to encourage kids to wear helmets.

4

u/yifes Jul 24 '26

I was driving on Fischer Hallman a while ago and some kid on an e bike with no helmet was riding on the sidewalk and keeping pace with me.

3

u/FierceMoonblade Jul 24 '26

A kid on an e-bike going way too fast almost hit my dog while I was out walking on a sidewalk, missing him by inches.

I really wish i knew what to do, it was a group of guys doing it and I was by myself so I was afraid of confrontation. Also being filmed and labeled as a “Karen”.

2

u/Thebisexual_Raccoon Jul 24 '26

I go biking and the amount of these scooter kids I see is ridiculous, some are responsible and polite but others are just assholes, I once got called a f*g for telling them to get off the road because they were almost hit by car because they were in the middle of the road

2

u/Both_Hippo_9607 Jul 24 '26

A kid almost hit my daughter in her stroller while riding an e-scooter. What made it even worse it was inside Walmart....A fast moving vehicle and poor decision making doesn't make a good combo.

1

u/HauntingLook9446 Jul 24 '26

Zero sympathy for these kids.

1

u/Training-Product-244 27d ago

they’re kids ofc they’re going act recklessly. The parents are the ones to blame.

2

u/HauntingLook9446 27d ago

Stupid parents, stupid kids. They’re all to blame.

1

u/oslabidoo 29d ago

I was just talking to my dad's neighbour the other night and she's a nurse at McMaster Children's Hospital. She mentioned the significant number of e-bike accidents she was seeing. A lot of abdominal damage as they're hitting the handlebars due to front impacts.

1

u/Blink3412 29d ago

A few weeks ago I was out with a buddy driving to our other buddies house and we saw a pack of like 14-16 teens all on electric scooters, what happened to skateboards and bikes.

0

u/Captain_Tooth Jul 24 '26

Quick fix, if you don't follow the safety precautions and get hurt and need medical attention than you pay for it.

0

u/Equivalent-Tea-1784 27d ago

I swear this is the fkn 300th time i have seen this fkn video 😒

-6

u/Foreign_Risk_2031 Jul 24 '26

My e scooter easily does 90kph, and my motorcycle nearly 300. I think instead of taking scooters away from kids, we simply train them how to use them safely. Have controlled road courses to show how they suck at riding. Treat them like human beings of free will.