Bring back cycle education for kids

[SquareDaff]

Was on my usual morning commute and had stopped at a Pelican crossing. Three boys walked across (would guess about 11-12 years old) on the way to school. One of them said "Do you think you're a car?". When I asked what he meant he said "You don't have to stop unless you're a car". I was just stunned. I know I should have come back with the witty comment "Does that apply to lorries too" - but I'm not that fast.

If kids think this and they're not educated in proper road usage then they're an accident waiting to happen. Do they not do Cycling Proficiency at schools anymore? I keep hearing how motorists speeding are costing lives. Letting children go through life being so ignorant of basic road laws can't help either!!

 

[Matthames]

There is Bikeability, however that is facing the axe by Cameron, Osbourne, et al..

 

[fossyant]

Unfortunately, Bikeability isn't rolled out in all areas...................

 

[CotterPin]

It is Cycling England that is being axed. Norman Baker has said that [url="http://www.bikebiz.com/news/32918/Bikeability-is-safe-says-transport-minister"]Bikeability is safe[/url]. Mind you, we will have to see how it will be administered

 

[Matthames]

I hope bikeability is indeed safe from the axe. That aside I have noticed that my local police force are part of a partnership with all the Sussex Councils and highway agencies. As part of that partnership they have launched this project called routes, which is basically an education program for teenagers to teach them all aspects of road safety.

 

[2Loose]

If kids think this kind of thing, when they eventually get a car they will still believe it too.
No wonder some drivers think that we don't have to obey the rules and get miffy.

 

[CotterPin]

Returning to the OP, we had a very lively discussion in our local cycle campaign group the other day on a related topic. One of our members was expressing his frustration at the number of cyclists in London who have recently taken up cycling and see others jumping red lights and assume this is the way to behave. Our discussion was about what we as a cycle campaign group could do about it (and indeed whether we should be.)

 

[SquareDaff]

Returning to the OP, we had a very lively discussion in our local cycle campaign group the other day on a related topic. One of our members was expressing his frustration at the number of cyclists in London who have recently taken up cycling and see others jumping red lights and assume this is the way to behave. Our discussion was about what we as a cycle campaign group could do about it (and indeed whether we should be.)

My own view is that as a cyclist I should still be bound by the laws of the road I'm riding upon. As the law states that I should stop at red lights then I will. In the long run...maybe we should be schooling kids in basic skills/rules that will keep them alive, i.e. road law, how to cross a road, how to ride a bike...rather than some of the "politically current" subjects we have nowadays!