Ridecamp: Re: [RC] [RC] Very young riders in AERC rides

On Thu, 24 Oct 2002 01:08:06 EDT, FASTGraphic@xxxxxx wrote:

>  This is true and works this way - if AERC sets NO age limits, they are not 
>responsible.  As soon as they do - say setting the age at 8, they are 
>implying that it is safe for a person of that age to ride the ride.  When the 
>8 year old is injured, the AERC bears some responsibility because, by setting 
>that age limit, they implied that it was safe for the 8 year old to ride.  
>Rules can be tricky things.  Let's leave well enough alone and leave it up to 
>parents to decide if their children are ready or not.
>Scott

Sorry, you are mistaken.  Every organization involved in a ride where
a child is injured, including AERC, has liability exposure.  Having no
minimum age increases that exposure, having a minimum age would reduce
it.  Both by assuring that no accident will occur in children younger
than the minimum, and by showing a jury that we took reasonable steps
(along with requiring helmets, for example) to protect juvenile
participants.

-- 

Joe Long
jlong@xxxxxxxx
http://www.rnbw.com




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