Living Car Free - You MUSt drive to school....

Saw this disgustiing article on a recumbent forum.

http://www.timesunion.com/AspStories/story.asp?storyID=847190&TextPage=1

It sickes me that they would try to force people to be driven to school...violating a persons basic right to choose how they move about it public. Its also very sad that some people fall for this fear mongering technique.

Sure they can ban bikes from school grounds. walk ur bike to within 5 feet and lock it up somewhere else. apparently there was a state trooper and school officials there trying to scare people.

But there is simply no way that someone can tell you how you can ARRIVE at a given place. Seriously who would fall for this trickery?

Link ends at a "page no found" error.

http://www.timesunion.com/AspStories/story.asp?storyID=847190&TextPage=1

works for me

This article blows my mind...

There is one note of hope. The policy may get changed.

It's hard for me to believe. When I was in elementary school, everybody rode their bikes, rain or shine. And that was across the busiest highway on the west side of Florida.

As a teacher, legally, if the student leaves home to go to school, the school is then responsible for that child. In other words, if a student is biking to school and gets hit and dies, the parent would potentially be able to sue the school for not taking adequate measures to protect their child under the current In Loco Parentis laws.

If I was the principal of a school along a busy road with no sidewalk and no way to supervise children biking or walking down the road, I'd be terrified as well. Wouldn't have much of a problem with the mother biking WITH her child, as in that case, ILP doesn't apply, but children alone? No way.

Ah, now it makes sense, sort of. But surely a note from the parent would be enough? And forcing students to be driven to school, couldn't they be open to litigation in the same way that tobacco and fast food companies are?

I was just about to double post this! I just posted on the commuting forum. Unbelievable! Here is an address to let them know what ya think! Be kind! Contact Maple Avenue Middle School Principal Stuart F. Byrne at:
s_byrne@saratogaschools.org

As a teacher, legally, if the student leaves home to go to school, the school is then responsible for that child. In other words, if a student is biking to school and gets hit and dies, the parent would potentially be able to sue the school for not taking adequate measures to protect their child under the current In Loco Parentis laws.
You sure 'bout dat? Any reference for that legal interpretation (school being legally responsible for child on way to school, and not on school property or bus) ever holding up in court ?

No, but that is the interpretation of the law that my past three school districts have stood behind, as well as the interpretation that I was taught in college.

Of course thats what the schools think and want others to think....so they can have some kind of reasoning for trying to pass obsurd rules trying to fear and trick people into something like the ones i posted. They tried enforcing stuff like this at schools in my area in the 90s. Only one problem. Nobody was naive enough to let their basic rights be violated. Their plan failed horribly.

The absolute only reason the school wants to pass this kind of crap is to keep from getting sued in the off chance that a kid gets killed in front of the school or something. Because the school is in no way liable for kids on their way to school. I understand school are lacking in budget but trying to pull this crap is crazy. Raise some taxes and hire some more crossing guards....Actually im sure if the individual schools or districts asked parents to chip in for extra crossing guards most parents would be more than happy. I mean how much does it really costs for 5 or so? a couple bucks a month from each parent?

What about folks who are "car free" for the old-fashioned reason, i.e., they're too poor to have a car? Are their children not allowed to go to school?

Another good point. What about the people with no cars. What are they going to TRY and do next? force kids to carpool? Carpooling is great and all...but what the schools are trying to force upon peolpe is absurd.

You can head out to commentary on this article here.

http://blog.timesunion.com/saratogaseen/pedal-power-to-the-people/2974/

The policy is pretty funny and some of the comments are even funnier.

Where is Saratoga Springs? Is it in the US?

This story reminds me of Woody Allen's "Bananas". After living in the jungle as a revolutionary for many years, Woody suddenly becomes president of the country. His first law is to force citizens to wear their underwear on the outside of their trousers..

This story reminds me of Woody Allen's "Bananas". After living in the jungle as a revolutionary for many years, Woody suddenly becomes president of the country. His first law is to force citizens to wear their underwear on the outside of their trousers..

Yeah, that was funny...like you'd have to force someone to wear their underwear on the outside of their trousers. We all do it... ... ... right?

The school only has jurisdiction over their property, not public streets. They could ban bikes on the school grounds, but they have no authority to control what type of vehicle citizens use on the public streets near the school.

Keep on ridin' and lock up off campus if you have to.

As a teacher, legally, if the student leaves home to go to school, the school is then responsible for that child. In other words, if a student is biking to school and gets hit and dies, the parent would potentially be able to sue the school for not taking adequate measures to protect their child under the current In Loco Parentis laws.

If I was the principal of a school along a busy road with no sidewalk and no way to supervise children biking or walking down the road, I'd be terrified as well. Wouldn't have much of a problem with the mother biking WITH her child, as in that case, ILP doesn't apply, but children alone? No way.

Quote legal precedent for that, not your school system's policy manual, which does not have the force of law. You tried this in another sub-forum, and got pretty well shut down.

**** like this just makes me want to ride even more.

Quote legal precedent for that, not your school system's policy manual, which does not have the force of law. You tried this in another sub-forum, and got pretty well shut down.

Precedent doesn't really matter now does it. All someone as to do is file a lawsuit and the district has to go through the cost of defending itself. And society's attitude of "protect us from ourselves" is the rule of law now instead of "accidents happen, it is no ones FAULT".

If there were such rules at my kids' schools I would just ignore them and come on foot and by bike anyway. Both because that is what I do, and because I would relish having the principal start a conversation about it.

j

I'm interested as to what business a state trooper has getting in the mix.

This was the rule at my public elementary school but the district provided buses for all the kids. the elementary school is on a road with a high speed limit, no side walk, and I think they just want the younger kids dropped off safely and under their supervision. In the middle and high schools they have a rule that everyone within 2 miles has to find their own way to school.

I was in elementary school in the 1960s. I biked a mile and back to my (parochial) school often, as soon as my folks figured I was old enough. Many of our students couldn't, because they lived much farther away. Considering that we lived 90' too close to school to get "free" bus service, I had to walk home on those days my Dad dropped my siblings and I off on his way to work. It used to bug me when I was told I couldn't ride. No, it's going to rain. No, it's too cold out. No, it's getting dark early, now. No, I want you to help walk your younger sisters and brothers home. Etc.

Getting home by bike meant side trips to the library or candy store,† too.

Kevin

† In New Yorkese, the "candy store" was that small shop that sold candy, cigarettes, newspapers, magazines and, of course, COMIC BOOKS! The good ones also had a soda fountain, where one could buy an egg creme. Replaced in modern parlance by "convenience store", bodega, etc.

I was in elementary school in the 1960s. I biked a mile and back to my (parochial) school often, as soon as my folks figured I was old enough. Many of our students couldn't, because they lived much farther away. Considering that we lived 90' too close to school to get "free" bus service, I had to walk home on those days my Dad dropped my siblings and I off on his way to work. It used to bug me when I was told I couldn't ride. No, it's going to rain. No, it's too cold out. No, it's getting dark early, now. No, I want you to help walk your younger sisters and brothers home. Etc.

Getting home by bike meant side trips to the library or candy store,† too.

Kevin



I too lived a block from the bus line and I was unable to ride the school bus, but I didn't have worry about younger siblings since I was the youngest.
My parents didn't have any restrictions on riding in the rain or low temps, and most of the time I was home before dark in order to eat dinner and watch my favorite tv programs.
By my early teens, I knew the names of every street in our town and I had rode my bike on every one of them .
Times have changed, now most kids are lucky to be able to ride or know a fraction of the streets that I ridden on.

At one time, elementary schools and middle schools were located in the centers of the neighborhoods they served. Now many schools are being closed and consolidated to achieve "economy of scale." Actually, I think this is a false economy, as the costs are just being passed back to the parents who have to drive their children to school. I also think that the education process suffers when little kids have to go to large schools, and spend more time in transit, and there might also be loss of parental involvement when the schools are farther away.

One trend in new high schools is to build them outside the city--often on land that's either been donated to the school disrict, or is cheaper for the district to buy. Also, city officials often don't want to have a lot of buildings in town that aren't contributing to the tax bas. At any rate, new high schools are often built out in the sticks, usuall served y busy arterial highways. Also, they often don't have service from either public buses or school buses. Typically, parents drive the 10th graders to school, but upperclass students have their own cars. The impact on traffic congestion, accidents and sprawl around these big new high schools can be enormous.

I guess my point is that I would be slow to blame parents, teachers or principals for the fact that more kids drive to school, or are driven. Often, driving does seem to be the safest and most practical solution. Instead, I would blame school boards who make long-term decisions to locate schools far from the children they serve.