Keeping Bikes of Our Lawn

growing up we had a lawn on a corner with a downward hill can you say BIKE MAGNET ... now I am not suggesting this but my father followed each one of those kids home one day and spoke with thier parents and he got one of those tacks on a net things to put in the lawn ... we had a HUGE back yard to play in we were not allowed to play on the front lawn to begin with ... they stopped after a few popped tires.

Hi H.,
I had a similar problem last summer with the neighbor boys taking the decorative rocks out of our landscape in the alley and throwing them into the creek. I went out and talked to them and acknowledged that throwing rocks is fun and that I know they didn't know how important it was to us to keep the rocks where they were. They said they couldn't find any other rocks to throw and I suggested they look around the creek area and that ours needed to stay put. I also told them I knew they were good kids and would understand my request and how much I appreciated their help and that I wouldn't need to talk to their parents because I know they would help me take care of our landscape. They were very understanding and I haven't had a problem since. I've got boys who are 21 and 16 and I have learned that all it takes is a smile and kindness and kid will respect an adult's wish. Good luck.

H.,

Me, personally I would not speak with the children. I would go to their parents and explain your fears. Ask that they please speak with their children about riding through your lawn. I can't imagine anyone thinking you are the mean neighbor. If you just talk to the children you are asking for trouble. Something you say WILL get taken out of context and now you are have bigger problems.

I wish you luck.
Dene' H.

I put in new sod last year. I had a few boys decide they were going to play baseball and put a base in my yard. I basically just went out and told them that I had just put the lawn in and would prefer they didn't play on my lawn. I wasn't mean and they respected that. I thanked them and I never had problems with it again.

The lawn sign idea is also good.

Jodi

I don't think you should worry about being the "mean people". I would take a guess and say that the kids that are riding around your lawn may just need to learn to respect other people's belongings. I would tell them nicely once, and if that doesn't work - appeal to their parents.

I would talk to the kids directly and just be casual. "Hey guys, ride on the concrete not the grass" should not make you the bad guys. If they don't listen explain more directly that they should not ride on your grass and then talk to their parents if they still don't listen. But keep in mind that you will probably change your mind about how important your grass is as your child becomes a bike rider. Probably those kids ride all over their own grass and have no idea that you don't want them riding on yours. Different family rules, that's all.
Good luck.

Times have changed I guess. I was taught I needed to ask to be on somone else's property. I would talk to the parents. It should not be up to you to teach these children to respect your property. I would explain your concern to them. Somehting else to keep in mind is that if they were to get hurt while on your property you can be held responsible. If I am going to be responsible for somone you sure have better cleared it with me first. Kids can get an attitued where as if you explaing the situation to their parents they should be understanding.

We had the same problem when we moved to our new home. The neighborhood kids were used to playing on that lot and we had to let them know that it was no longer o.k. to play there. They did not like it, but it was one of those things that we had to do.

You just need to tell them the same way you wrote it. It's not the way you say things, its the way people receive what is said. I think it's better to be called mean than to have others sue you if they are hurt on your property or to have them ruin the sprinklers or the lawn.

I would just simply walk outside & tell them nicely or sortof joke about it. "Hey guys we work really hard maintaining our yard can you please keep your bikes off the grass. I'd really appreciate it. Thank you." Don't even mention about letting them ride on your driveway because if they fall you're responsible also.

I simply told the boy who let his dog poop in our yard to either pick it up or stay out of our yard because I have young children playing in it. I never saw him again or his dogs poop.

I have been walking around different areas and I have noticed people putting up Keep off grass signs in their yards. Maybe that will help if you put up a sign.
Good Luck!

Asking your neighbors nicely to teach their childern to stay off lawns is a totally reasonable request! You spend time and money on lanscaping neither of which is cheap. I would state it as simply as you did in your request. I don't think there is one house in our neighborhood that would allow anyone to ride through their lawns.