Sustainable Transport Plans

"Danny Colyer" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I contacted one school about it, and I've just received an e-mail from the
head telling me that they don't have a sustainable transport plan and that
they don't encourage cycling because they don't believe the children are
old enough.

I wouldn't be at all surprised if that's the standard response - or
something along those lines, anyhow. Even when Nathan was at high school,
cycling was not encouraged and in some ways, actively discouraged - even at
high school level.

Cheers, helen s

wafflycat said:

"Danny Colyer" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I contacted one school about it, and I've just received an e-mail from the
head telling me that they don't have a sustainable transport plan and that
they don't encourage cycling because they don't believe the children are
old enough.

I wouldn't be at all surprised if that's the standard response - or
something along those lines, anyhow. Even when Nathan was at high school,
cycling was not encouraged and in some ways, actively discouraged - even at
high school level.

Our children aren't allowed to do anything or take responsibility for
themselves in any way whatsoever until they reach eighteen. Then they
take full responsibility and have no experience to go with it.
Wonderful recipe for a society.

When I was at secondary school there were loads of people cycling. What
is so different about kids now? I thought they were supposed to be
getting cleverer, at least thats what all the stats show so surely they
can cope with travelling on their own.

Bah!

...d

Danny Colyer said:

I understand that every UK school is required to have a Sustainable
Transport Plan. Am I right, and if so can someone provide a reference?

Jenny is due to start school next year.

Oh, the joys of being a cycling parent.

This whole issue makes me very cross.

This is something I come across daily - parents wanting their children
to be able to cycle to school, yet the LA and individual schools
imposing ridiculous conditions.

My daughter's new school only 'allows' cycling if the distance is
greater than one mile.
*Every* house in the place I live in is within one mile. Doh.

Other secondary schools demand that cycle training has been undertaken,
while the primary schools rarely provide it. <sighs>
Then the LA says no one under 10 should be on the roads anyway.

I live 100 yards from a primary school and allow my garage to be used
by pupils who cycle, because they are not allowed to take bikes on the
school premises. Yet this school does have a Travel Plan.
I even teach cycling there, but can the youngsters ride to school? Nope.
And the staff car-park is presently being enlarged :-((
If I had any hair I'd tear it out.

With a few exceptions, the school system is in a shambles when it comes
to promoting cycling to youngsters because so much depends upon the
individual headmaster, the governors and the local authority.
Your best bet is to get personally involved and push from within -
perhaps as a parent governor, or as a PTA member.

You may also like to look at the following link.
http://www.dft.gov.uk/stellent/groups/dft_susttravel/documents/page/dft_susttravel_504076.hcsp

It looks encouraging, but don't be deceived when it comes to real life.

Good luck

John B

JohnB said:

Other secondary schools demand that cycle training has been undertaken,
while the primary schools rarely provide it. <sighs>

This school at least offers training in year 6 (which by my reckoning is
probably the last year, age 10/11).

Quoted message said:

Your best bet is to get personally involved and push from within -
perhaps as a parent governor, or as a PTA member.

I intend to. This particular school has no provision for cycle storage,
but a new school is due to be built during the next few years to replace
it. If we choose this school then I would certainly push for sensible
facilities to be included in the new plans.

Catherine had already narrowed the choice down to two schools (the only
ones within easy walking distance) before getting me involved. We
haven't had a chance to look at the other school yet.

Quoted message said:

You may also like to look at the following link.
http://www.dft.gov.uk/stellent/groups/dft_susttravel/documents/page/dft_susttravel_504076.hcsp

Thanks.

--
Danny Colyer (my reply address is valid but checked infrequently)
<URL:http://www.speedy5.freeserve.co.uk/danny/>
"He who dares not offend cannot be honest." - Thomas Paine

JohnB said:

Danny Colyer said:

I understand that every UK school is required to have a Sustainable
Transport Plan. Am I right, and if so can someone provide a reference?

Jenny is due to start school next year.

Oh, the joys of being a cycling parent.

This whole issue makes me very cross.

This is something I come across daily - parents wanting their children
to be able to cycle to school, yet the LA and individual schools
imposing ridiculous conditions.

My daughter's new school only 'allows' cycling if the distance is
greater than one mile.
*Every* house in the place I live in is within one mile. Doh.

We have the same issues here in Dundee. At present the kids can walk to
school - it would be more trouble than it is worth for them to cycle as
it is only about 300m. When they go to econdary school it will be
either a 25-30 min walk (at more or less adult pace, so a bit longer
by kid pace) or by bike, but I have heard tell that there are no cycle
facilities at the secondary schools.

There is also no cycle training provided by the council, it is via the
local police who are IMHO not always the best people to do it.

Must start to rattle cages on this (again).

Would anyone have any links to documents that give recommendatins for
types of training and ages of children? This would be useful ammunition
in any correspondence.

I must also get involved with the PTA at the primary school.
Unfortunately their meetings are at silly times (6-7) which is about
the most inconvenient time possible of an evening.

...d

"David Martin" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

We have the same issues here in Dundee. At present the kids can walk to
school - it would be more trouble than it is worth for them to cycle as
it is only about 300m. When they go to econdary school it will be
either a 25-30 min walk (at more or less adult pace, so a bit longer
by kid pace) or by bike, but I have heard tell that there are no cycle
facilities at the secondary schools.

There is also no cycle training provided by the council, it is via the
local police who are IMHO not always the best people to do it.

Must start to rattle cages on this (again).

Would anyone have any links to documents that give recommendatins for
types of training and ages of children? This would be useful ammunition
in any correspondence.

I must also get involved with the PTA at the primary school.
Unfortunately their meetings are at silly times (6-7) which is about
the most inconvenient time possible of an evening.

Have you seen the Dundee (City of) . Cycling Scotland Assessment of Local
Authorities April 2005 at
http://www.cyclingscotland.org/downloads.asp?fileID=41
It does mention training offered to P6 pupils (allegedly).

--
Duncan Gray

The Mountaineering Council of Scotland
www.mountaineering-scotland.org.uk

"Danny Colyer" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I understand that every UK school is required to have a Sustainable
Transport Plan. Am I right, and if so can someone provide a reference?

Jenny is due to start school next year. The local primary schools have a
system where the kids stay at the same school all the way from age 4 to
age 11 (rather than infant school from 4 to 7, then primary school from 7
to 11, like when I was a lad). So the school's policy on cycling is
important, because Jenny will still be there when she's old enough to
cycle to school.

I contacted one school about it, and I've just received an e-mail from the
head telling me that they don't have a sustainable transport plan and that
they don't encourage cycling because they don't believe the children are
old enough.

Dunno about compulsory plans, but get in touch with Ashton Gate Junior
school, where a deputy head, Peter something, is v proactive regarding
sustainable transport.

in message <[email hidden]>, Danny

Colyer (') said:

I contacted one school about it, and I've just received an e-mail from
the head telling me that they don't have a sustainable transport plan
and that they don't encourage cycling because they don't believe the
children are old enough.

FWIW at least 20% of the pupils of my local primary school cycle past the
house most days, some of them as young as seven (and one who's been
cycling over a mile each way every school day since he first went to
school at 5 - usually accompanied by a parent). Some of them are cycling
two miles on a NSL A road. It isn't urban, and it isn't busy (and it
certainly isn't flat). The idea that modern kids don't have enough sense
to use the road safely is rubbish.

--
[email hidden] (Simon Brooke) http://www.jasmine.org.uk/~simon/

Morning had broken, and we had run out of gas for the welding torch.

Danny Colyer said:

I understand that every UK school is required to have a Sustainable
Transport Plan. Am I right, and if so can someone provide a reference?

It's called a *School Travel Plan*. I don't think it's a requirement,
but schools get cash if they have one which is accepted.

Quoted message said:

Jenny is due to start school next year. The local primary schools have
a system where the kids stay at the same school all the way from age 4
to age 11 (rather than infant school from 4 to 7, then primary school
from 7 to 11, like when I was a lad). So the school's policy on cycling
is important, because Jenny will still be there when she's old enough to
cycle to school.

I expect the school will be divided into Early Years (Reception (and
Nursery)), Key Stage 1 (Years 1 & 2) and Key Stage 2 (Years 3 - 6). I
prefer the terms Infants and Juniors and use those terms when I want
to wind up certain colleagues.

Quoted message said:

I contacted one school about it, and I've just received an e-mail from
the head telling me that they don't have a sustainable transport plan
and that they don't encourage cycling because they don't believe the
children are old enough.

Upper junior children (Years 5 and 6 (ages 9 - 11)) are certainly old
enough to ride independently to schools on residential roads, crossing
main roads by pushing, provided they have proper training. I would
recommend that untrained children or younger children (ages 4 - 8) be
escorted to school, with a parent following on a bike, or as part of a
*bike train*.

Duncan Gray said:

Have you seen the Dundee (City of) . Cycling Scotland Assessment of Local
Authorities April 2005 at
http://www.cyclingscotland.org/downloads.asp?fileID=41
It does mention training offered to P6 pupils (allegedly).

It states: "Cycle training with P6 school children is delivered by Road
Safety colleagues. No informtaion on offer rate was available".

ie. Some P6 kids once had the local bobby tell them to wear a helmet...

Simon Brooke said:

The idea that modern kids don't have enough sense
to use the road safely is rubbish.

A *lot* don't.

John B

Bertie Wiggins said:

Danny Colyer said:

I understand that every UK school is required to have a Sustainable
Transport Plan. Am I right, and if so can someone provide a reference?

It's called a *School Travel Plan*. I don't think it's a requirement,
but schools get cash if they have one which is accepted.

....and the headmaster gets to tick another box.

John B

David Martin said:

Would anyone have any links to documents that give recommendatins for
types of training and ages of children? This would be useful ammunition
in any correspondence.

This document is very comprehensive.

WARNING: 500MB PDF download

http://www.dft.gov.uk/stellent/groups/dft_susttravel/documents/page/dft_susttravel_035901.pdf
http://tinyurl.com/dz2ns

Paragraph 3.6 is very relevant. Below is an interpretation, not a
quote:

At the age of 10 children have sufficient judgment of distance and
speed for on-road cycle training. However, if training is provided
earlier the cognative skills can develop sooner.

JohnB said:

Bertie Wiggins said:

Danny Colyer said:

I understand that every UK school is required to have a Sustainable
Transport Plan. Am I right, and if so can someone provide a reference?

It's called a *School Travel Plan*. I don't think it's a requirement,
but schools get cash if they have one which is accepted.

...and the headmaster gets to tick another box.

Not if the headteacher wears a skirt. ;-)

Danny

Sustainable development is big in education and training at present I am
sure all schools will have to have an action plan for SD. This could and
should include encouraging sustainable transport to school.

You might find these web sites interesting

http://www.sustainable-development.gov.uk/delivery/delivery.htm

http://www.nc.uk.net/esd/index.html

There are loads of other sites to help in your quest.

Best of luck

Cliff

"Danny Colyer" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I understand that every UK school is required to have a Sustainable
Transport Plan. Am I right, and if so can someone provide a reference?

Jenny is due to start school next year. The local primary schools have a
system where the kids stay at the same school all the way from age 4 to
age 11 (rather than infant school from 4 to 7, then primary school from 7
to 11, like when I was a lad). So the school's policy on cycling is
important, because Jenny will still be there when she's old enough to
cycle to school.

I contacted one school about it, and I've just received an e-mail from the
head telling me that they don't have a sustainable transport plan and that
they don't encourage cycling because they don't believe the children are
old enough.

--
Danny Colyer (my reply address is valid but checked infrequently)
<URL:http://www.speedy5.freeserve.co.uk/danny/>
"He who dares not offend cannot be honest." - Thomas Paine

On 28 Sep 2005 13:01:50 -0700 someone who may be "David Martin"
<[email hidden]> wrote this:-

Quoted message said:

Would anyone have any links to documents that give recommendatins for
types of training and ages of children? This would be useful ammunition
in any correspondence.

There has been a fair bit of work on this sort of thing in the
capital city. http://www.saferoutestoschools.org.uk/index.php?p=CS19
is an example. Fife have done a bit as well I believe.

--
David Hansen, Edinburgh | PGP email preferred-key number F566DA0E
I will always explain revoked keys, unless the UK government
prevents me by using the RIP Act 2000.

Bertie Wiggins said:

Quoted message said:

...and the headmaster gets to tick another box.

Not if the headteacher wears a skirt. ;-)

The Rector.
See, we Scots have thought about such things.

(I assume a Rector can be female. Opinions from our Dundee correspondents
please.)

On Thu, 29 Sep 2005 07:41:03 +0100 someone who may be John Hearns
<[email hidden]> wrote this:-

Quoted message said:

(I assume a Rector can be female. Opinions from our Dundee correspondents
please.)

Rectors of universities can be female, Muriel Grey being perhaps the
best known example. I assume the same is true of schools.

--
David Hansen, Edinburgh | PGP email preferred-key number F566DA0E
I will always explain revoked keys, unless the UK government
prevents me by using the RIP Act 2000.

David Hansen said:

On Thu, 29 Sep 2005 07:41:03 +0100 someone who may be John Hearns
<[email hidden]> wrote this:-

Quoted message said:

(I assume a Rector can be female. Opinions from our Dundee correspondents
please.)

Rectors of universities can be female, Muriel Grey being perhaps the
best known example. I assume the same is true of schools.

The Rector of the University of Dundee is Lorraine Kelly. As far as I
am aware she is female.

...d