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[Closed] Stupid School anti cycling policy

Zukemonster · 2009-09-09T08:17:35Z

My son goes to a school that seems very good in many ways, but for some reason they seem to be very anti-bike, I was wondering if anybody else had come across teachers like this, or if I can maybe get some cycling organisation to lobby the school... CTC or something? The problem seems to be this; The school have a very nice newish bike shed area, but they have a rule that only pupils who have taken their cycling proficiency test can cycle to school. This seems quite sensible, except the school only puts on the test in the summer term at the end of year 6 (this is a junior school so from year 3-6 age 7-11 ish) So obviously no pupils are therefore have been allowed to cycle to school until their midway during their final term... Obviously the bike shed at the school is ALWAYS empty, even on lovely sunny days. It is even sillier when you notice that the infant school next door has a big bike area, that is always packed with bikes from the younger kids! Anyhow I am not one to take things like this lightly, and I also find this extremely annoying personally as we live about 3 miles from the school, so a complete pain to walk in a morning, but a great ride with the kids, mostly on cycle paths! It seems to be illogical to be told by a school we effectively HAVE to drive to school. So anyway I cycled in with my son today, and made sure he locked his bike in the bike shed (instead of being a wimp and locking it outside the school in the street) Teacher comes up and makes disaproving comments to my son, saying does he know the school rule. I step in and say we live too far to walk, and that it would obviously be stupid to leave the bike in the street when there is a perfectly good cycle rack here and if there is a problem they can call me. I am really hoping they will call , but i suspect that they will instead take it out on my son, and I will have to cause a stink tomorrow. Anyhow any advice appreciated.... rant over

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BigJohn

Posts: 10747

Full Member

If the school feels able to ban certain vehicles for travel to school why don't you write to the governers and ask them to ban 4x4s?

Posted : 10/09/2009 5:40 pm

HoratioHufnagel

Posts: 6757

Free Member

Page 145 of this

DFT.GOV.UK "http://www.dft.gov.uk/adobepdf/162469/221412/221549/227755/rcgb2007.pdf"

may be useful

in 2007 47 children died or seriously injured cycling to school
442 walking
28 whilst in cars

theres lots of other tables there, and obviously lots more people walk/drive than cycle, but ask them what they're doing to reduce pedestrian deaths.

Posted : 10/09/2009 5:59 pm

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