Kids want to cycle to school

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Tony W

Apparently a survey of 15,000 pupils carried out by the National Children's Bureau finds that
almost a third of children would like to cycle to school compared with about 2% who do (and 85% who
have a bike).

The project manager, Andrew Stuck, is quoted as saying "Children are put off cycling because of the
high volume of traffic on the roads. The irony is that if more children cycled instead of being
driven to school there would be much less congestion".

I think we could widen that statement to include many commuters.

This is reported in Local Government First. I cannot find a reference to it on the NCB web site
www.ncb.org.uk

T

Kennedy Fraser

Tony W wrote:
> Apparently a survey of 15,000 pupils carried out by the National Children's Bureau finds that
> almost a third of children would like to cycle to school compared with about 2% who do (and 85%
> who have a bike).
>

In have a letter to my son's (ex) primary school and East Dunbartonshire council on the back burner
waiting for the schools to go back in August.

The school has a rule that you are not allowed to cycle to school until you pass your Cycling
Proficiency Test [1]. But they don't run the course and the test until late in the summer term for
P7, who then leave to go to secondary school.

So no one (including other children) see children cycling to school and as a normal and acceptable
thing to do. In fact, before they pass their test the children have to walk their bikes to school -
this despite the fact that David has been using his bike on the roads since he was 8 or 9.

Perhaps having bikes coming to school would improve the standard of parking/driving around
the school.

Kennedy

[1] I was amused to see all the disclaimers on the back of the CPT certificate saying that this test
was no guarantee that the rider would be able to deal with traffic.

Wafflydirtycatl

An article of interest can be seen at
<http://www.norwichcycling.fsnet.co.uk/Articles/safe%20routes.htm> (http://www.norwichcycling.fsnet.co.uk/Articles/safe%20routes.htm)

I suppose a typical school reaction is the one I encountered from my son's school where I was told
that cycling goes against the school's health & safety policy...

Cheers, helen s

~~~~~~~~~~
This is sent from a redundant email Mail sent to it is dumped My correct one can be gleaned from
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Stephen \

"Kennedy Fraser" <k.fraser-nospam@ltscotland.com> wrote in message
news:bdrhhi$57v$1@singer.cent.gla.ac.uk...
> Tony W wrote:
> > Apparently a survey of 15,000 pupils carried out by the National Children's Bureau finds that
> > almost a third of children would like to cycle to school compared with about 2% who do (and 85%
> > who have a bike).
> >
>
> In have a letter to my son's (ex) primary school and East Dunbartonshire council on the back
> burner waiting for the schools to go back in August.
>
> The school has a rule that you are not allowed to cycle to school until
you
> pass your Cycling Proficiency Test [1]. But they don't run the course and the test until late in
> the summer term for P7, who then leave to go to secondary school.
>
> So no one (including other children) see children cycling to school and as
a
> normal and acceptable thing to do. In fact, before they pass their test
the
> children have to walk their bikes to school - this despite the fact that David has been using his
> bike on the roads since he was 8 or 9.
>
> Perhaps having bikes coming to school would improve the standard of parking/driving around
> the school.
>
> Kennedy
>
> [1] I was amused to see all the disclaimers on the back of the CPT certificate saying that this
> test was no guarantee that the rider would be able to deal with traffic.
>
I assume they mean you can't keep the bike on school premises. Surely what your child does before
ariving in the school grounds is non of their concern. So locking it outside the school may be an
option - although less safe.

John B

Kennedy Fraser wrote:

> Tony W wrote:
> > Apparently a survey of 15,000 pupils carried out by the National Children's Bureau finds that
> > almost a third of children would like to cycle to school compared with about 2% who do (and 85%
> > who have a bike).
> >
>
> In have a letter to my son's (ex) primary school and East Dunbartonshire council on the back
> burner waiting for the schools to go back in August.
>
> The school has a rule that you are not allowed to cycle to school until you pass your Cycling
> Proficiency Test [1].

Not enforceable, tho' many schools do try this giving some pretty stupid reasons. The worst I came
up against was "we admit we cannot stop them riding to school but we would insist they wear helmets
and we can't have them on the premises as there is no where secure to store them". At last the Head
Governor who set this rule has now left and I've managed to get cycle training introduced.

> But they don't run the course

Why not offer to become an Instructor?

> and the test until late in the summer term for P7, who then leave to go to secondary school.

It was the same at the primary school where I am now training young cyclists. It is the first time
since 1993 that the school has been able to offer courses
- each is 8 lessons, 4 on the playground, 4 on the road. One of my groups is also undertaking the
training during the school day, which is excellent - but only possible because they are not in the
end of term musical, so can miss rehearsals. Next term it won't be possible.

Unfortunately the school did not get around to organising 'names' until this term and so Year 6 has
been given priority. At least they should be able to cycle to their new schools.

> So no one (including other children) see children cycling to school and as a normal and acceptable
> thing to do. In fact, before they pass their test the children have to walk their bikes to school

Same here (or so the official line goes), although I know some of the children under me do cycle to
school (they pass my house in the morning). But then I don't see them do I ;-)

> - this despite the fact that David has been using his bike on the roads since he was 8 or 9.

My son (10) is also in one of my groups and he has been riding ever since he moved from trailer onto
tandem. He too has been solo on the road since 8, and last weekend covered a 40 mile ride. However a
lot of the children at this age have not even ventured off the pavements yet and they need to be
catered for. Many seem to need confidence in removing their hands from the bars to signal.

> Perhaps having bikes coming to school would improve the standard of parking/driving around
> the school.

I reckon it would. I'd like to see *lots* of children riding, which is why I do the training. Just
some of them may continue cycling into their later years and not become so dependent on the car.
Even if they do become motorists, they should hopefully have more respect for cyclists and other
road users.

>
> [1] I was amused to see all the disclaimers on the back of the CPT certificate saying that this
> test was no guarantee that the rider would be able to deal with traffic.

There is a lot of covering one's own back amongst the authorities who run the schemes -
understandable given the increasing litigious society we live in.

A couple of days ago a young girl turned up with one of the front wheel nuts unscrewed and almost
falling off - absolutely lethal. Officially I was not allowed to touch it but was to send the
child home.

This put me in a quandrary. do I send he off to (probably) ride home on the road on a lethal
machine? Or do I spend 10 seconds tightening the wheel nut.

Everyone had to look the other way while the adjustable spanner was produced.

John B

Marc

John B <jpb.design@removevirgin.net> wrote:

>
> > But they don't run the course
>
> Why not offer to become an Instructor?

How?

--
Marc Stickers,decals,membership,cards, T shirts, signs etc for clubs and associations of all types.
http://www.jaceeprint.demon.co.uk/

Tony W

Colin Blackburn

In article <bdrp8b$vbi4c$1@ID-161007.news.dfncis.de>, tonyREMOVE@chapmore.co.uk says...
>
> "wafflyDIRTYcatLITTERhcsBOX" <wafflycathcs@aol.comcomcom> wrote in message
> news:20030701045037.16905.00001410@mb-m06.aol.com...
> > An article of interest can be seen at
> > <http://www.norwichcycling.fsnet.co.uk/Articles/safe%20routes.htm> (http://www.norwichcycling.fsnet.co.uk/Articles/safe%20routes.htm)
> >
> > I suppose a typical school reaction is the one I encountered from my son's school where I was
> > told that cycling goes against the school's health &
> safety
> > policy...
>
>
> What? You mean it is school policy to make sure they eat lots of soggy chips, become obese, take
> no exercise and die at 35?
>
> Well -- I suppose its a plan :(

Well yes cos then their SATS scores don't matter as they are removed posthumously for
statistical reasons.

Colin

John B

marc wrote:

> John B <jpb.design@removevirgin.net> wrote:
>
> >
> > > But they don't run the course
> >
> > Why not offer to become an Instructor?
>
> How?

Start by approaching your local authority - probably the County one and talk to the Road Safety
Department. If you don't get anywhere then try the CTC as they have been doing an audit of all cycle
training schemes and might be able to give you a local contact.

Where I am, the training consisted of basically a talk and a run through of the particular scheme.
Of course you will also probably have to have a CRB check - my authority insist on the Enhanced one
but they cover the cost.

Have a go. It is fun as well as very rewarding.

John B

Tim Woodall

On Tue, 1 Jul 2003 11:51:36 +0100, Tony W <tonyREMOVE@chapmore.co.uk> wrote:
>
> "wafflyDIRTYcatLITTERhcsBOX" <wafflycathcs@aol.comcomcom> wrote in message
> news:20030701045037.16905.00001410@mb-m06.aol.com...
>> An article of interest can be seen at
>> <http://www.norwichcycling.fsnet.co.uk/Articles/safe%20routes.htm> (http://www.norwichcycling.fsnet.co.uk/Articles/safe%20routes.htm)
>>
>> I suppose a typical school reaction is the one I encountered from my son's school where I was
>> told that cycling goes against the school's health &
> safety
>> policy...
>
>
> What? You mean it is school policy to make sure they eat lots of soggy chips, become obese, take
> no exercise and die at 35?
>
> Well -- I suppose its a plan :(
>
While the odd one or two might die at 35, the only real requirement is that they die by 60. This is
how to solve the pensions "crisis".

Tim

--
God said, "div D = rho, div B = 0, curl E = - @B/@t, curl H = J + @D/@t," and there was light.

http://tjw.hn.org/ http://www.locofungus.btinternet.co.uk/

Marc

John B <jpb.design@removevirgin.net> wrote:

> > > > But they don't run the course
> > >
> > > Why not offer to become an Instructor?
> >
> > How?
>
> Start by approaching your local authority - probably the County one and talk to the Road Safety
> Department.

Ahh! :-(

> If you don't get anywhere then try the CTC as they have been doing an audit of all cycle training
> schemes and might be able to give you a local contact.
>
> Where I am, the training consisted of basically a talk and a run through of the particular
> scheme. Of course you will also probably have to have a CRB check - my authority insist on the
> Enhanced one

There is only an enhanced one ATM

> but they cover the cost.
>
> Have a go. It is fun as well as very rewarding.

I was considering it inline with running the Cub pack, but if it involves LA input then it's not
worth the hassle in this neck of the woods.

--
Marc Stickers,decals,membership,cards, T shirts, signs etc for clubs and associations of all types.
http://www.jaceeprint.demon.co.uk/

John B

marc wrote:

> John B <jpb.design@removevirgin.net> wrote:
>
> > > > Why not offer to become an Instructor?
> > >
> > > How?
> >
> > Start by approaching your local authority - probably the County one and talk to the Road Safety
> > Department.
>
> Ahh! :-(
>

Cynicism noted and _fully_ understood.

>
> > Where I am, the training consisted of basically a talk and a run through of the particular
> > scheme. Of course you will also probably have to have a CRB check - my authority insist on the
> > Enhanced one
>
> There is only an enhanced one ATM

Which is what I have - it took 7 weeks to obtain tho'. I was informed in February that there was
a lower level one (my 2002 booklet lists the Standard Disclosure). I assume then that that has
now changed.

> I was considering it inline with running the Cub pack, but if it involves LA input then it's not
> worth the hassle in this neck of the woods.

I thought the same (esp. having once worked for the LA) but found the Road Safety team to be very
switched on regarding cycling - although they do have some policy items I most certainly do NOT
agree with. They have also been very helpful on other issues.

It is likely that I too will be taking some cubs and scouts as the scheme is also to be made
available to them (and I have an Explorer - training to be a YL, a scout and a cub in the
family anyway).

John B

Dave

Gonzalez

wafflyDIRTYcatLITTERhcsBOX wrote:

>An article of interest can be seen at
><http://www.norwichcycling.fsnet.co.uk/Articles/safe%20routes.htm> (http://www.norwichcycling.fsnet.co.uk/Articles/safe%20routes.htm)
>
>I suppose a typical school reaction is the one I encountered from my son's school where I was told
>that cycling goes against the school's health & safety policy...

I'm a teacher. I constantly battle with the school's management over cycling. At last we have secure
storage for bicycles - now I have a battle to get the cycling proficiency test to be open to
children in Year 5 as well as children in Year 6 - at the end of the summer term.

It used to be that Year 5 & 6 children who cycled to school had to lock their bikes up outside
school premises!!!
--
remove remove to reply

Mr R@T \ -Lsqco

"wafflyDIRTYcatLITTERhcsBOX" <wafflycathcs@aol.comcomcom> wrote in message
news:20030701045037.16905.00001410@mb-m06.aol.com...
> An article of interest can be seen at
> <http://www.norwichcycling.fsnet.co.uk/Articles/safe%20routes.htm> (http://www.norwichcycling.fsnet.co.uk/Articles/safe%20routes.htm)
>
> I suppose a typical school reaction is the one I encountered from my son's school where I was told
> that cycling goes against the school's health &
safety
> policy...
>

Hmm - a place where kids are exposed to all manner of diseases and contamination, may also suffer
stress-related illnesses due to the amount of tests and exams they must take or with the amount of
bullying and violence in some schools may even fight and seriously damage one another; and *cycling*
is unsafe?

If you wanted to keep the kids safe you'd be better off closing the bloody schools down, teaching
them at home (or within smaller neighbourhood communities) and letting them ride their bikes.

Things like this just make me eternally glad I am not a father! I once considered that if they
introduced that Indian-style family planning in the UK I'd happily get the snip in return for a
Dawes Super Galaxy, but I had a look at the Marie stopes website (yes, they do blokes too these
days) and it all seemed way too painful. Anyway as a good Catholic Boy I had better say 10 Hail
Marys now for looking at that sinful website (Marie Stopes, not Dawes... ;)

That said Reading council is still pretty good for cycling proficiency training.

Alex

Ben

"wafflyDIRTYcatLITTERhcsBOX" <wafflycathcs@aol.comcomcom> wrote in message
news:20030701045037.16905.00001410@mb-m06.aol.com...
> I suppose a typical school reaction is the one I encountered from my son's school where I was told
> that cycling goes against the school's health &
safety
> policy...

Was that about cycling as a sport or in general? If the latter, maybe they should have a chat with
all those primary schools that got DfT grants last month.

Ben [not in any official capacity]

Garry Broad

On Tue, 1 Jul 2003 18:28:07 +0100, "Dave" <no-one@nowhere.org> wrote:

>
>"wafflyDIRTYcatLITTERhcsBOX" <wafflycathcs@aol.comcomcom> wrote in message
>news:20030701045037.16905.00001410@mb-m06.aol.com...
>> An article of interest can be seen at
>> <http://www.norwichcycling.fsnet.co.uk/Articles/safe%20routes.htm> (http://www.norwichcycling.fsnet.co.uk/Articles/safe%20routes.htm)
>>
>> I suppose a typical school reaction is the one I encountered from my son's school where I was
>> told that cycling goes against the school's health &
>safety
>> policy...
>>
>> Cheers, helen s
>>
>I reckon they think of 'worst case scenario' and imagine what would happen if every child turned up
>on their bike.....all of a sudden, as ideologically preferable a scenario as it may be, it would
>probably create more chaos than the 4x4 school run.

Bikes (remember the expression - 'the bike shed'!!!....and the activities it concealed!, shanks'
pony and school buses.....they were the options we had. The only time I was driven to school was
either to collect the lastest wood-working masterpiece, or to make a dental appointment....god, the
embarrassment of parents turning up to school!!! The good olde days?

The 4x4 school run is, quite frankly, bizzare.

Garry

>Where to store them all up for the day ?..several hundred cyclists arriving / leaving within 10
>mins of each other. Critical Mass rallys would look like childs play compared to trying to manage
>our ideal scenario. So, best to discourage then, eh ? ;-) Dave.

Ben

"wafflyDIRTYcatLITTERhcsBOX" <wafflycathcs@aol.comcomcom> wrote in message
news:20030701154219.06490.00002073@mb-m17.aol.com...
> >Was that about cycling as a sport or in general?
>
> Cycling. They got a Sport England award and as part of the gumpf put out
about
> it, part was to "foster sporting links with the local community" - so I
asked
> about this - what it means in practical terms and in particular, as
regards
> cycling provision - especially as offspring cycles to school sometimes and
is
> into time trialling with a local club. The response I got was cycling goes against the school's
> health & safety policy ...

Both as a sport and in general? Hmmph. On the sporting side, I take it they've banned rugby, hockey,
lacrosse, swimming... Abseiling, canoeing.... As for the general use of bikes, they obviously failed
to get any funding from the DfT for the last round of cycling projects. Look at all the infant and
primary schools funded at http://www.dft.gov.uk/pns//pnattach/20030073/1.doc and the variety of
schemes funded. I haven't tried mapping them all but I know there's one pioneering primary school in
Stoke Newington, London which applied and failed. But three primary schools around it were inspired
by that school's previous successes (among other effects, cycling drew teachers, parents and kids
together and had a positive effect on the general school community) and have got DfT funding.

Your lad's school is starting to look so far out of step it's silly.

Ben [not in any official capacity]

Gonzalez

wafflyDIRTYcatLITTERhcsBOX wrote:

>What exactly is the supposed problem with cycling & schools???

Perceived worry over liability if a child is killed or seriously injured. Could a school be held
partly to blame for the death of a child if it had encouraged children to cycle to school be
providing storage for bicycles?

Each year I lead a *family cycle ride*, about 6 miles each way along the Thames' Path to the Thames'
Barrier. My headteacher insists that an adult other than me is responsible for each and every child.

It's my favourite day of the year... We get children cycling independently from the age of four
upwards, and the full age range is represented from under 1 year old to grandparents.
--
remove remove to reply

Wallace Shackle

Have a look at the Scottish Cycling Development Project web site.

http://www.scottishcycling.org (http://www.scottishcycling.org/)

Failing all else get some friends together and offer your services to the school. Expect to have a
criminal record check done....

marc wrote:
> John B <jpb.design@removevirgin.net> wrote:
>
>
>>>But they don't run the course
>>
>>Why not offer to become an Instructor?
>
>
> How?
>
>

--
Wallace Shackleton,

Kinross, Scotland.

Cycling in Kinross-shire www.cyclekinross.org.uk

Perth & Kinross Cycle Campaign www.bycycle.org.uk