Right Proctection ?

As usual, we took the boys to downstair playground in the evening time for normal activities. Normal activities includes cycling around, chasing around, mingle around with other kids and parents.

It was a fine evening until this unpleasant incident happened...

Same like many other countless evening, the bicycle gang that consist of 5-6 children, boys and girls, age from 3-7 years old, casually ride their tricycle or bicycle around and around the playground compound. Vincent and William are two of them. While they were cycling, we sat on the bench aside, kept an eyes on them and chit-chatting.

Our attention was captured when we saw a toddler, around 1.5 years old, suddenly ran out from the 'safe zone'. Just at this time, a little girl was riding her tricycle towards him and she was not looking straight. Within a few second, her tricycle knocked on the toddler. The toddler fell down. Luckily, she wasn't riding fast. We saw the mother quickly came to carry him away. Since he didn't cry or make a fuss or what, and no injuries was seen too, we thought it was no big deal and move away our eyes to follow the boys again. Frankly speaking, this kind of accident will happen once in a while and we have get used of it already.

The square black area is the safe zone. All the kids seems to know they shouldn't enter the zone when riding their bicycle.

About 10 min later, we saw that couple again, standing near to the pedestrian passway and talking to a safety guide. At first, no body paid attention. However, as they stood there too long for arguing, people was getting curious. Some adults went near to probe what's going on there. Even the bicycle gang stopped there and listened. Well, I went to check it out too. Basically, the mother was pointing to the sign of "NO CYCLING" and blaming the guide for didn't do his job to stop the children from cycling in the playground. The guide was so embarrasing and he couldn't defend himself well.

After a while, the crowd were bored to hear them repeat the same old things over and over, so we gradually moved away. I went back to where I sat to tell KS what I've heard. Before I finished, we saw this couple walked to us with black face. Immediately, we smelled something was going to happen.

Woman : You two sit there long enough and see what happen to my son. I'm going to call the police now, you two need to stay right here to testify. (with her finger pointed to us)

KS and I was shocked and we felt offended at the same time.

KS : Yes, we saw what happen. But do you think it's necessary to call the police?

Woman : This place is not meant for the children to ride the bicycle. There is a sign "NO CYCLING" over there. You see it too right? The guide doesn't seem to care about it, so we need to call the police.

KS : Aha...but the children have been cycling here for a very long time. Their bicycle are not very big one but all with small wheels. Even though collision happen at times, it never cause serious injuries to anyone.

Woman : (getting very furious) of couse you can say that. It's not your son who have been knocked down. He almost got killed just now.

I think our eyes must be wide opened, jaws dropped when we heard how exaggerated she was.

Me : Well, everyone's kid got knocked down in some way or another before. You son will grow up one day. He will learn to ride one day and he is likely to knock somebody too. We saw what happen, that little girl didn't do it for purpose. Can't you be more tolerate about it?

The woman muted for a few seconds, then her husband's turn.

Man : No matter what, the children are not suppose to ride bicycle in the playground. It's very dangerous to the small kids.

Me : Yeah, what's your suggestion then? They need a safe place to ride too. We as the parents have to watch our kids and remind them not to ride too fast lah. (Isn't she should have done the same too?)

Woman : (still furious) Well, we still want to call the police.

KS : Well, we are not going to testify then. You can't force us.

We really wanted to end this conversation fast. The couple was very furious, I could see their face turned real red. They walked back to the pedestrian passway and continue to argue with the guide for another 10-15 min time. From time to time, the woman gave us her fierce look, like we have insulted her or what. This really made me sick. Finally, they left after some time. Probably they didn't get any support from anyone.

Other parents were curious. Since we knew one another, so I walked to them and told them what happened. They all felt rediculous when they got to know the couple intended to call the police to settle down the things. What did they expect the police to do? To arrest that 5 years old little girl? To give summon to all those parents whose kid was cycling there?

No doubt there is a clear "NO CYCLING" sign board hanging over there to show this place is not meant for cycling. I wouldn't agree if the big bicycle is allowed here cause this would be dangerous to most of the kids. But for small bicycles, I think it's ok lo. Children need place to stretch their muscles at outdoor. In HK, there is really not much place we can choose for them other than the playground. I just think everyone should be more considerate and tolerate to one another, and treat things in a more humane ways.

After all, this is the playground we all share in the same community. And we will get to see one another and their kids almost everyday too. Unless one decided never to go and mingle with the people in the playground there, what's the point to put oneself into a difficult position?

This couple, they have just labelled themselves as the unfriendly neighbour. As for the poor toddler, though we won't isolate him by telling our kids not to play with him, I doubt his parents will ever take him to this playground again which clearly is not a SAFE place for him? If this you-can't-touch-my-son-a-bit attitude continue, I think in order to stay our nose out of the trouble, eventually most of the parents would just tell their kids to stay away from their son.

It's understandable we all want to protect our children from getting harm or injuries. But is it right to go to the extend to force other people to move ways to ensure their little darling's safety? Is this kind of protection justified?