Commuting to school

[Aint Doody]

I just found out last week that the public school system here in Pendleton will not allow children to ride their bikes to school! I'm incredulous. Any suggestions on how our bike club could help in this situation?

[badgercat]

I guess it would help to know what (if any) reasoning they provided for the ban. Safety along routes to/from school? 6th graders terrorizing kindergartners in the parking lot? Just not wanting to pay for bike racks?

[Veronica]

Yeah, I'd find out why first.

It could be that years ago some little kid got hit while riding their bike to school and the parent sued. School districts don't like being sued.

Or the the district's lawyer decided it just wasn't a safe enough route and they wanted to avoid being sued.

I suspect that if there was less litigation in our society, there would be fewer rules.

Veronica

[Cataboo]

I think kids are the school's responsibility until they get in their front door.

At least that was the lecture we got at school... if you got off the bus & got into a fight with a neighbor kid, you could still be suspended for fighting. Even if you weren't at the bus stop & were walking elsewhere. School rules applied till you were in your front door.

I don't think there's many kids walking to school anymore - can kids walk in pendleton?

[Veronica]

I think kids are the school's responsibility until they get in their front door.

That's the way it is in CA.

Veronica

[Aint Doody]

Well, I'm glad y'all suggested I check with the school district. Guess what--they were surprised. They said there was no such policy. Children can ride their bikes. They have to use a lock and have to wear a helmet. I should have checked it all out first. I'm glad that I was misinformed.

[shootingstar]

In Vancouver (excluded suburbs), there is currently the first-ever large scale cycling program for children to develop safe cycling skills.

http://www.vacc.bc.ca/bts/bts.php?pageID=79

My understanding is that the program will target approx. 3,000 school children across several schools over a period of less than 2 months. The program is currently led by a cyclist, a retired school principal. His lobbying efforts have been supported by a few cyclists, who themselves are school teachers.

The program coordinator(s) approach the target schools and work via key teachers in each school.

It's a great foundation to start.

I pass several schools on my regular cycling rides in early morning these past few weeks. Only 1 school, I noticed total of less than 5 different children on a bike..usually accompanied by an adult.

[Aint Doody]

Shooting Star--that looks really great. Keep us informed on its progress.

[shootingstar]

Today at the Bike to Work Wk. finale BBQ event, I coincidentally met one of the high school teachers. His school (probably led by him) did implement Bike to Work/School Wk.

Each day this wk., there was an average of 8-10 students that biked to work from his high school. Considering that 2 of the days this week, it was several hrs. of continuous wet rain either in morning or at end of afternoon, it's not terrible.

He had 3 student volunteers in tow to help with the free Bike valet service which allow safe storage of bikes in a penned area for a large outdoor event. He made sure they were fed with burgers and juice. These type of events are great fun things for teens to volunteer, given the relaxed tone of any cycling event.