I appreciate your concern, but
I've been a biker for years, ever since I bought my first bike at 16 (Im 45 now). When I got that bike my father (another biker) gave me the best piece of advice I've ever had - treat every other road user like fucking morons who don't have a clue what they're doing and you'll be fine. I don't see mopeds as death traps, personally I think everyone should have to learn to ride a bike, and then ride that bike for a couple of years, before they're allowed near a car - it would teach them far more in the way of road sense, awareness, manners and consideration than car driving does.

She is going to college next year and will need transport - public transport from where I live is a joke, and besides which giving her independence rather than wrapping her up in cotton wool and having mummy dropping her off at college isnt so cloying for a person of that age.

I will, however, be teaching her to ride it myself, alongside the training courses - just to put my own mind at rest that she knows the dangers and treats the machine and the road with respect.
(Freakmandu, Thu 3 Dec 2009, 13:51, 1 reply)

a basic biking course
As a biker yourself, I'm sure you are aware of this, but before you get your bike licence you need to pass a proficiency (did I spell that right?) test just to go out on the open roads on an L plate. On this they teach you how moronic other drivers are, but also how to be safe yourself. If you do get together enough money to buy your daughter a moped (great idea btw, if you are sure she'll appreciate it) why not get all the extended family that'd buy her bath bombs or New Look vouchers to club together and send her on one of these courses. Than if she does like her moped, she'll be safer on the road and also be one step nearer getting her bike test
( no longer a user, Thu 3 Dec 2009, 14:13, closed)

I often wondered why car drivers don't have a similar proficiency test - or do they now, its been so long since I passed my car test things have probably changed.
(Freakmandu, Thu 3 Dec 2009, 14:16, closed)