Bike To School Day - School says don't
10-04-06, 10:50 AM
#51
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Originally Posted by tbdean
Wow. I don't know what to say. My daughter was excited about this. Walk & Bike to school day is tomorrow.
I checked the web site and my daughter's elementary school hasn't signed up. No big deal, it's Georgia, I was expecting that. So last week I emailed the principal and her assistant and asked if they were planning on doing anything. Will there be signs? Extra crossing guards? Will there be a place to lock up your bike?
My daughter has told me "no one" rides their bike to school and they don't even have a bike rack, but surely that can't be true.
No response to the emails so I just called. I asked the operator if they are planning anything and I get a quick "no". I ask if I ride with my daughter will there be a bike rack. No again. She asks if I want to talk to the secretary? Sure.
I ask my question again and she's puzzeld. "Are you sure you meant to call Jackson Elementary?" Yeah "Hold On". She comes back and explains that they aren't participating, "it's just not safe". (Not safe?!) "Okay, I'm going to ride with my daughter. I've been told there is no bike rack, can she just lock her bike to the fence."
"No, it's just not safe."
I didn't know what to say. I paused, and then, "wait, are you asking me not to ride on my own."
"Yes, I'm sorry. There's a lot of traffic, and busses..."
Wow. She was really nice about it. She offered to let me talk to the principal later (in a meeting now). I'm kinda tempted to do it anyway but I don't thinking upsetting the school administrators will do any good.
I checked the web site and my daughter's elementary school hasn't signed up. No big deal, it's Georgia, I was expecting that. So last week I emailed the principal and her assistant and asked if they were planning on doing anything. Will there be signs? Extra crossing guards? Will there be a place to lock up your bike?
My daughter has told me "no one" rides their bike to school and they don't even have a bike rack, but surely that can't be true.
No response to the emails so I just called. I asked the operator if they are planning anything and I get a quick "no". I ask if I ride with my daughter will there be a bike rack. No again. She asks if I want to talk to the secretary? Sure.
I ask my question again and she's puzzeld. "Are you sure you meant to call Jackson Elementary?" Yeah "Hold On". She comes back and explains that they aren't participating, "it's just not safe". (Not safe?!) "Okay, I'm going to ride with my daughter. I've been told there is no bike rack, can she just lock her bike to the fence."
"No, it's just not safe."
I didn't know what to say. I paused, and then, "wait, are you asking me not to ride on my own."
"Yes, I'm sorry. There's a lot of traffic, and busses..."
Wow. She was really nice about it. She offered to let me talk to the principal later (in a meeting now). I'm kinda tempted to do it anyway but I don't thinking upsetting the school administrators will do any good.
Here are some links:
https://www.saferoutesinfo.org/
https://safety.fhwa.dot.gov/saferoutes/
You may also want to check into this as well:
https://www.bikeleague.org/programs/e...rses.php#kids1
https://www.bikeleague.org/programs/e...rses.php#kids2
See if you can get yoour child & others involved in courses like these.
Also here is the LCI info for your state:
https://www.bikeleague.org/cogs/resou...20&submit.y=13
There is one in your area it looks like, here is the info. on that person:
https://www.bikeleague.org/cogs/progr...or_detail/1553
10-04-06, 11:14 AM
#52
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Originally Posted by genec
Yeah strict helmet laws in CA... that was probably what turned kids off of bikes.
10-04-06, 11:19 AM
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Ha ha. Dakota and Brittney. Classic.
My childhood bike was such an integral part of my life. I can't imagine what it must be like to have your parents tell you it's too dangerous. I certainly did some stupid stuff like doing tricks on the top tube at breakneck speeds downhill, and my shoelaces were always untied and getting caught in stuff. I probably could have gotten hurt, and I always had bruises from knocking into things, but that was part of the thrill and the fun.
Adults are more scared of getting hurt than kids. Our old flesh doesn't heal as well, and we have a life of bumps and pains to remember. It's too bad we let that fear keep kids from doing reasonable day-to-day things.
My childhood bike was such an integral part of my life. I can't imagine what it must be like to have your parents tell you it's too dangerous. I certainly did some stupid stuff like doing tricks on the top tube at breakneck speeds downhill, and my shoelaces were always untied and getting caught in stuff. I probably could have gotten hurt, and I always had bruises from knocking into things, but that was part of the thrill and the fun.
Adults are more scared of getting hurt than kids. Our old flesh doesn't heal as well, and we have a life of bumps and pains to remember. It's too bad we let that fear keep kids from doing reasonable day-to-day things.
10-04-06, 11:24 AM
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Originally Posted by bbonnn
Adults are more scared of getting hurt than kids. Our old flesh doesn't heal as well, and we have a life of bumps and pains to remember. It's too bad we let that fear keep kids from doing reasonable day-to-day things.
10-04-06, 11:37 AM
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Originally Posted by cooperwx
It hasn't always been this way. Most of us seem to remember walking and biking and not being talked out of it. I think we as parents see too many child abduction news stories, and maybe it's happening more. The school administrators see those stories too, and they also see all the traffic congestion and impatience/inattention on the roads. Maybe things were just slower and safer in our childhood days...
However, the paranoia fed by the media about how unsafe our world is now compared to a generation ago is just that: paranoia.
I can't wait to teach my girls when they are old enough how to ride safely in the streets and let them be responsible to get to a friends house on their own. I will soothe their bumps and bruises the best I can, but I'm not going to live their lives for them. It's called independence, which seems to be something today's American society wants to deny its youth.
Man, I sure got old and crotchetty before my time.
10-04-06, 11:52 AM
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Originally Posted by timmhaan
i used to ride my bike to school, but that was partially through the desert and off any main roads. plus we had big 'ole bike lanes to use if we needed them.
10-04-06, 12:09 PM
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Originally Posted by LCI_Brian
The elementary school bus stop is in front of my vacation home. Having a short rock wall and a sloping front yard, I was concerned about any potential liability as a landowner, especially since I am not around daily to monitor the condition of the wall and the slope. I contacted a former school board member who told me that the school is responsible for the welfare of the students at the bus stop, as well as transit to/from the bus stop. Irrespective of whether or not he is correct on the latter point, I can see how the school system lawyers would be afraid of any potential lawsuits.
Originally Posted by I-Like-To-Bike
If I were you I'd worry more about any potential lawsuits against a landowner who may have an attractive nuisance on his property and the knowledge that children are in the area every day.
Originally Posted by I-Like-To-Bike
Maybe you better contact a lawyer and not a "former school board member" to find out where potential liability could lie.
10-04-06, 12:15 PM
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There was plenty of bad stuff happening back in the 70s but we all rode our bikes to school, played unsupervised in the park (and even in the sewers under the street), caught frogs in the creek and stayed out well past dark anyway--and we even survived to tell the tale. I think I had permanent scabs on my knees as a kid.
I feel sorry for kids these days.
I feel sorry for kids these days.
10-04-06, 12:21 PM
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Originally Posted by LCI_Brian
That's what got me looking into potential liability. Didn't you read the second sentence of my post?
The school board member had previous talks with the school system lawyers. At least it's helpful to have free advice as to what schools typically think about the issue. Care to pay for some legal advice for me?
The school board member had previous talks with the school system lawyers. At least it's helpful to have free advice as to what schools typically think about the issue. Care to pay for some legal advice for me?
Try and pass off to the school board a suit made against you for injuries on YOUR property and see what the school system lawyers have to say then about THEIR liability. You can be sure they won't be singing the same tune.
Your free legal advice is worth what you paid for it. Plus it somehow morphed into "most cases" solution. I understand your concern, not your method of finding the correct answer to your question/problem nor your willingness to extrapolate a tid bit of info into a "most cases" fact.
10-04-06, 09:23 PM
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Originally Posted by sbhikes
There was plenty of bad stuff happening back in the 70s but we all rode our bikes to school, played unsupervised in the park (and even in the sewers under the street), caught frogs in the creek and stayed out well past dark anyway--and we even survived to tell the tale. I think I had permanent scabs on my knees as a kid.
I feel sorry for kids these days.
10-05-06, 06:20 AM
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Originally Posted by Blue Order
That about descibes it, except you left out the part where I climbed up on the roof of our house and jumped off. And the part where I tied a noose around my feet and hanged myself upside down. And the part where I covered myself in mud from head to toe...
They don't do that stuff anymore?
They don't do that stuff anymore?
10-05-06, 06:46 AM
#62
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Today is Parent-Teacher Conference day, so no school. or school bus Consequently, I attached the Trail-A-Bike to my bike and took my daughter to school for day camp. As I wqalked in the door, the first thing I saw was a big poster, made by some class, proclaiming that October was Walk, Bike, or Scooter to School Month. They are clearly making a big thing od it in Arlington, VA.
Paul
Paul
10-05-06, 08:07 AM
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Originally Posted by Blue Order
That about descibes it, except you left out the part where I climbed up on the roof of our house and jumped off. And the part where I tied a noose around my feet and hanged myself upside down. And the part where I covered myself in mud from head to toe...
They don't do that stuff anymore?
They don't do that stuff anymore?
I also left out the part about all the flashers, molesters and ******* there were back then. Never saw any of them while I was riding my bike. Maybe they should outlaw babysitting.
10-05-06, 09:32 AM
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Originally Posted by PaulH
Today is Parent-Teacher Conference day, so no school. or school bus Consequently, I attached the Trail-A-Bike to my bike and took my daughter to school for day camp. As I wqalked in the door, the first thing I saw was a big poster, made by some class, proclaiming that October was Walk, Bike, or Scooter to School Month. They are clearly making a big thing od it in Arlington, VA.
Paul
Paul
Let us know at the end of the month if you noticed any difference in the number of students who walk, bike or scooter to your daughter's (or anybody else's) school in Arlington.
10-05-06, 09:41 AM
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Originally Posted by cooperwx
It hasn't always been this way. Most of us seem to remember walking and biking and not being talked out of it. I think we as parents see too many child abduction news stories, and maybe it's happening more. The school administrators see those stories too, and they also see all the traffic congestion and impatience/inattention on the roads. Maybe things were just slower and safer in our childhood days...
Now parents are afraid. Kids end up out alone or in groups of 2-3. If they go to the park they will not find other kids to play with. If they want to score some dope they only have to go to the side of the Gym, not all the way to the back.
We as a society have failed to support wholesome activities. Unwholesome one are self supporting.
10-05-06, 09:46 AM
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Originally Posted by I-Like-To-Bike
Yeah, I read it and that's why your method of resolving a real concern by seeking free advice from somebody who talked to somebody else seems so silly.
Try and pass off to the school board a suit made against you for injuries on YOUR property and see what the school system lawyers have to say then about THEIR liability. You can be sure they won't be singing the same tune.
Your free legal advice is worth what you paid for it. Plus it somehow morphed into "most cases" solution. I understand your concern, not your method of finding the correct answer to your question/problem nor your willingness to extrapolate a tid bit of info into a "most cases" fact.
Try and pass off to the school board a suit made against you for injuries on YOUR property and see what the school system lawyers have to say then about THEIR liability. You can be sure they won't be singing the same tune.
Your free legal advice is worth what you paid for it. Plus it somehow morphed into "most cases" solution. I understand your concern, not your method of finding the correct answer to your question/problem nor your willingness to extrapolate a tid bit of info into a "most cases" fact.
10-05-06, 10:16 AM
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Originally Posted by Keith99
Actually the School Board member probably gave accurate, but limited, information. He was only concerned about his position and gave information ONLY from that perspective. The District may in fact be liable for injuries at the stop. BUT that does NOT mean you are off the hook. It just means that if you turn out to be pennyless then the parents can ALSO go after the school district. (In fact in cases like this the parents can go after the school district and then the district can in turn go after you).
Last edited by I-Like-To-Bike; 10-05-06 at 07:10 PM.
10-05-06, 06:00 PM
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If walking or riding a bike to school is more difficult, strenuous or challenging than riding in an automobile, the education system will naturally oppose it. Or, better yet, do a big splashy one day promotion.
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10-06-06, 05:08 PM
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New pictures taken at the Middle School today. Looks like the bike racks have been rearranged or there may be a few new racks. Not bad turnout since it was 45 degres this morning.
