Clip of 'male Karen' cyclist who told disabled rider his adapted trike wasn't allowed on trail goes viral

I think you're right, but this guy is now Freddy. Whether he likes it or not. Freddy is the new Karen.....

It is a powered wheelchair so all electric. However it allows people to traverse terrain they would not normally do. I'm pretty sure there are multiple uk areas that have the same type for use on off road nature trails. 

Neither. It is an electric wheelchair, so theirfor the user is considered a pedestrian.

How that interacts with local rules on cycle only MTB paths I don't know, but I would guess (in the UK) that they have no legal standing as rights of way, so it is down to the land owner to set rules.

I reckon it is OK to call out and publish unpleasant behaviour like this and raise awareness of the everyday prejudices that people with a disability face.

HarrogateSpa wrote:

But also be kind - don't humiliate Freddy by broadcasting his bad behaviour around the world. And be kind - don't use this horrible "Karen" thing to label people.

I'm not sure he initially realised the rider was disabled, but he ought to have profusely apologised once he realised his error.

Instead, the female rider then blames the victim of the abuse saying he 'should have lead with that' comment about not being able to walk.

So there's every reason to call this out publicly. Hopefully it will make pedants stop and think.

HoarseMann wrote:

I'm not sure he initially realised the rider was disabled, but he ought to have profusely apologised once he realised his error.

Instead, the female rider then blames the victim of the abuse saying he 'should have lead with that' comment about not being able to walk.

So there's every reason to call this out publicly. Hopefully it will make pedants stop and think.

This.

Definitely should have apologised (playing devil's advocate, maybe Mrs Karen was trying to make light of it, joke her way out of it?).

However, and there is a tenuous Covid link here, it illustrates how on the one hand people are being encouraged to act all vigilante because there aren't enough police but on the other hand there are so many ways to trip yourself up when you do try and 'enforce' regulations...

We've all seen video clips of police, aircrew, etc, all getting it wrong, so 'civilians' can get it even more wrong.

Personally, nowadays, I just presume that someone is allowed to ride somewhere or do something; if not, well I'm afraid that it is Somebody Else's Problem.  Let the authorities deal with it.

Cough - cough - electric scooters in cycle lanes - cough - cough.

brooksby wrote:

 

Cough - cough - electric scooters in cycle lanes - cough - cough.

hang on - you use cycle lanes?! 

I also thought that these two are not mountain bikers. Back in the early days, there were not that many places to ride a MTB legally. Even the bridleways, whilst legal, most hikers then made you feel very unwelcome. Of course there are now some great trail centres etc. but it wasn't always like that. If you wanted to ride challenging terrain, you had go 'off-piste'.

I also think some ramblers forget that 'they' were once the law breakers, trespassing on Kinder Scout etc.

I'm sure in time the riding of electric scooters in cycle lanes will become lawful. Maybe then there will be a push for better cycle infrastructure.

HoarseMann wrote:

brooksby wrote:

Cough - cough - electric scooters in cycle lanes - cough - cough.

hang on - you use cycle lanes?! 

I also thought that these two are not mountain bikers. Back in the early days, there were not that many places to ride a MTB legally. Even the bridleways, whilst legal, most hikers then made you feel very unwelcome. Of course there are now some great trail centres etc. but it wasn't always like that. If you wanted to ride challenging terrain, you had go 'off-piste'.

I also think some ramblers forget that 'they' were once the law breakers, trespassing on Kinder Scout etc.

I'm sure in time the riding of electric scooters in cycle lanes will become lawful. Maybe then there will be a push for better cycle infrastructure.

Perhaps I should have been more clear:

Cough - cough - electric scooters going the wrong way in cycle lanes - cough - cough.

HoarseMann wrote:

brooksby wrote:

 

Cough - cough - electric scooters in cycle lanes - cough - cough.

hang on - you use cycle lanes?! 

I also thought that these two are not mountain bikers. Back in the early days, there were not that many places to ride a MTB legally. Even the bridleways, whilst legal, most hikers then made you feel very unwelcome. Of course there are now some great trail centres etc. but it wasn't always like that. If you wanted to ride challenging terrain, you had go 'off-piste'.

I also think some ramblers forget that 'they' were once the law breakers, trespassing on Kinder Scout etc.

I'm sure in time the riding of electric scooters in cycle lanes will become lawful. Maybe then there will be a push for better cycle infrastructure.

I think it is worth noting, electric scooters are illigal.

Riding on footpaths and other areas is not illigal. Trespass is only illigal if the land owner specificly asks you to leave, (with the exception of some areas covered by other laws, such as millitery bases and railways) which can be done in person or by putting up a notice.

Ramblers have no right to tell someone not to cycle somewhere in general. Footpaths only confir a right of access to walkers, they do not prevent access to other people.

John Smith wrote:

I think it is worth noting, electric scooters are illigal.

not all of them - you can even hire them in Keswick of all places!

https://e-motion.technology

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/e-scooter-trials-guidance-for-users

HarrogateSpa wrote:

Be kind - don't try to throw the rider with his adapted trike off the trail.

But also be kind - don't humiliate Freddy by broadcasting his bad behaviour around the world. And be kind - don't use this horrible "Karen" thing to label people.

TBH whether I'm disabled or not is nobody's business other than my own, my family, friends and my Doctor.

If you do not know me and you're going to stick your nose into my business, humiliate me and attempt to throw me out of a place where I have a right to be just like everyone else then that behaviour deserves to be called out as It's very rude and uncalled for.

You are not the park ranger. You do not possess the authority to throw me off the nature trail. Leave the policing to the authorities that look after the area. Don't stick your nose in other people's business. 

Freddy deserved what he got

Taken from a different creed but still very relevant:

-- "It's not what you ride, It's that you ride..."

If Freddy showed some respect and common decency, He would have got some back.

(edited for some spelling, grammatical errors and extras.)

HarrogateSpa wrote:

Be kind - don't try to throw the rider with his adapted trike off the trail.

But also be kind - don't humiliate Freddy by broadcasting his bad behaviour around the world. And be kind - don't use this horrible "Karen" thing to label people.

Normally and generally I agree. I've taken a stomping or two for calling out incriminating video when they were of people with obvious psych issues, who didn't deserve the ridicule.

But when it's a hostile able-bodied, self-entitled twat like this, let the world see what kind of bullying they (including his cheerleader female) think they can get away with. Maybe there's a slim chance they'll see these comments and have moment of reflection.

Maybe not.

kil0ran wrote:

FYI, a male Karen is a Kevin.

A Darren, surely? 😏

My nice Tory MP is a Kevin; the one who showed his entitled ignorance last week in a Twitter exchange with Marcus Rashford. So based on that, I agree that a male Karen is a Kevin.

gjh wrote:

My nice Tory MP is a Kevin; the one who showed his entitled ignorance last week in a Twitter exchange with Marcus Rashford. So based on that, I agree that a male Karen is a Kevin.

Conclusive argument there.

According to the authority on this matter (The Chive) a male Karen is a Kyle.

Yeah. Great, I'm sure everyone who was given these quite normal names by their parents before the words were pinched by the internet public shaming squad is grateful to all of you.

Can we just go with "Class Act" which I think was pretty restrained in the circumstances?

There's arseholes driving, cycling and walking around.

Agreed. The cyclist complainant is one. Who would even dream of complaining at this man? 

My 89 yo mother in her e-wheelchair, one foot amputated is fairly safe on her 400 yard trundle up to the High Street- the idea that, even at the most base level, you're going to come off worse if you start a road argument with her has this effect.
Until Darren/Kevin.

You also forgot - hidden sense of humour!

Freddy the Dick. The trike isn't going to rip the trails etc and other riders can call out to get past if going faster.