Figtree Mother Confronts Abuse While Riding Legal E-Bike with Daughter
Even the most courteous and law-abiding e-bike riders can face unexpected hostility, as one Figtree mother has discovered in a distressing incident that left her shocked and concerned.
A Christmas Present Turns Sour
Casey Fisher and her husband purchased a legal e-bike as a Christmas gift for their two daughters, hoping to encourage outdoor activity and reduce screen time. "It was a Christmas present that would get the children out of the house and off the electronics and out into the sunshine," Ms Fisher explained. "It seemed to be a great idea to us in theory, but it seems to be the backlash that's amping up now is not making it too enjoyable."
Despite her efforts to ride responsibly, including maintaining walking pace in crowded areas like the Blue Mile and waiting for safe passing opportunities, Ms Fisher has encountered significant negativity from pedestrians.
Horrible Abuse in Front of Daughter
In one particularly upsetting incident, Ms Fisher was riding with her 11-year-old daughter on board when she politely thanked pedestrians who moved aside. Instead of acknowledgment, she received abusive comments that left her stunned. "Obviously they didn't hear my thanks and the comments they fired at me as I went past were horrible," she recalled. "I had my 11-year-old daughter on the back and I was absolutely in shock, to be honest. I couldn't believe that I'd done absolutely nothing wrong and received what I had."
Ms Fisher acknowledges that some e-bike riders cause problems by riding recklessly, but emphasizes that many, like herself, follow all rules and prioritize safety. "You see kids around the streets or banging it around at ridiculous speeds, of course, I understand," she said. "But what I don't expect to receive is abuse with my young daughter, especially on the bike when I'm doing absolutely everything right."
Teaching Responsible Riding
Committed to responsible parenting, Ms Fisher has taken proactive steps to ensure her daughters ride safely. She conducted training sessions on quiet local streets shortly after Christmas, teaching proper techniques such as:
- Using bells when passing pedestrians
- Exercising caution near driveways
- Maintaining appropriate speeds in different environments
"I've actually gone along with them on a normal bike myself, just to enforce things like taking care when you pass by driveways, or when you're passing by people, let's use the bell," she explained. "We're doing responsible parenting on our front. It just seems you just can't please everybody when it comes to these."
The experience highlights growing tensions between e-bike users and pedestrians in shared spaces, even when riders follow all regulations and demonstrate consideration for others.
