Ministers want 60% of children walking or cycling to school by 2035

[Dadam]

No chance in this day and age, as much as I like the idea, a policy like this was needed ~20 years ago!

I agree with the second part but that's no reason not to attempt to change it.

 

[wakemalcolm]

It changed when local authorities lost total control of schools as they became academy’s . My daughter is now 30 and they had definitely gone by the time she went to secondary school here in Coventry, we could have tried to sent her to any of the Coventry schools . It’s was to do with ‘ parental choice ‘ . So it has definitely happened in England . Could be different in wales and Scotland with their devolved powers .

Ah yes, it's pretty much get what you're given up here, but you can appeal if you want to, or if you're seriously salaried, the private sector up here is pumping out entitled darlings faster than you can say: is that organic free range taramasalata?

 

[Oldhippy]

I have just read the comments on the BBC news posting of the story proving that there are many idiots across the land.

 

[Ming the Merciless]

No chance in this day and age, as much as I like the idea, a policy like this was needed ~20 years ago!

There is another article about the lost generation of adults and older children who never learnt to ride a bike and were driven everywhere. The first generation in decades that have lower health and life expectancy thsn previous generations.

 

[Punkawallah]

A fine aim, but I suspect it will be under funded or funds mis directed.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c3wyezwly69o

Oh Minister! With the increase in the cost of living it will be inevitable!

 

[ebikeerwidnes]

My grand kids probably won't
The endest gets the train - she could cycle but "girl's don't cycle"
and also her parents would have kittens if she suggested it as it would include a very very busy big road

middle one goes to a special school so has a school bus

youngest - Yea Gods that would scare me
he never does anything slowly - runs everywhere
and would do the same ona bike

and he is always paying attention to something off to one side and constantly changes it all
so he is forever tripping over his own feet

Him on a bike on a busy road is the stuff of nightmares!!

but I reckon he could, but some poor bugger would have to escort him for a week or 2 after starting Secondary School to get him to do it safely

and I know who that would end up being!!!
(even though we live over 20 minutes away by car!)

 

[Oldhippy]

Apart from traffic it is amazing how much the perception of the danger has become over the years. In the 70's I had a three mile each way commute by foot or bike, many home made bikes at that in all weathers.

 

[Pat "5mph"]

My own son cycles 8km (5 miles) every day to school and back, even in deep winter, he's been doing that since he was 10 years old.

I was going to say it depends by the age of the school kid, no way a 5 yo could/would walk a mile in a Scottish rain storm.
Here the local primary is just a few streets away, I see many children walking there (well, I see them walking back, because I'm at work by 7am), always with their parents though.
Parents tell me it's not safe for them to walk the half mile alone, imagine walk or cycle a mile!
Imo, 60% as a target is over optimistic.
Maybe we could start with 10% of over 10 yo that walk.
Cycling?
With our lack of safe routes, 1% would be great, at the moment I don't see any secondary pupils cycling to school in my area.
On my commute there are several schools, actually on a safe, mostly segregated shared route, that I use daily.
Sometimes I ride home at 3pm, never seen any young person cycling.

 

[Drago]

Let's be realistic. They can build winderful scenic footways, smooth cycle routes, even give away Bianchi's in the NHS, and fat, lazy, selfish, self entitled parents will still drive their kids a quarter mile to school and home again.

Carrot won't make much difference, will only trim around the edges where enlightened folk like us already inhabit, and we probably already walk our sprogs to school (I do) anyway.

Nope, a large dose of big stick is needed. Sadly thats not a vote winner, and those with the power to forcibly change things for the better won't because staying on the gravy train is more important than doing the right thing. They could be in the middle of a lifestyle induced heart attack, their house being inundated by rising sea levels, their roof on fire due to climate change, and they'll still use their dying breath to get behind the wheel to drive Johnny Lardbucket 382 metres to the school gate.

 

[fossyant]

There is another article about the lost generation of adults and older children who never learnt to ride a bike and were driven everywhere. The first generation in decades that have lower health and life expectancy thsn previous generations.

This is a massive worry. I'm way more active than my parents ever were (and MrsF same - her parents did now't as adults), and also way more active than my adult kids. This is despite some huge injuries I've sustained - you won't stop me, and I'm not a mad risk taker.

 

[Drago]

This is despite some huge injuries I've sustained - you won't stop me, and I'm not a mad risk taker.

This is pertinent. I know people who've been badIy injured car crashes who arent put off driving, so,its only appropriate you feel the same.

The different is theyre that way because they're lazy and the alternative takes effort, youre that way because youre not.

 

[nogoodnamesleft]

... also her parents would have kittens if she suggested it as it would include a very very busy big road

Reminds me of my initial cycle tours in the Netherlands, each evening planning a route for the next day snd so often my initial reaction was, don't like that looks a busy road ... then as always I'd remember it's Netherlands and there will be a cycle path beside it, probably both sides.

Such a contrast to the UK.

 

[Andy in Germany]

I know it's not directly comparable, but where I live in Northern Germany it's really not that unusual. Loads of kids cycle or walk to school and every school has large cycle parking areas. My own son cycles 8km (5 miles) every day to school and back, even in deep winter, he's been doing that since he was 10 years old.

As you say though, as laudable an as it is, Britain has a hard enough time accepting cycling as it is, I can't see this initiative coming to much.

I must admit I looked at the title and my immediate reaction was "But that's normal."

Here in the deep south, kids riding to school on bikes is normal: my daughter (11) has always walked to school, now in high school a couple of towns away, she cycles in good weather and uses the tram when it rains.

That said, I've just got home after two weeks in York, and having seen the "infrastructure" there I can understand why the 60% goal is far out of reach: if that's a "cycling city" I'd hate to see a car-centric city.

 

[Pblakeney]

It's a laudable aim, however...

I want a hair transplant and 5 minutes alone with Jennifer Lawrence. I suspect both me and those ministers will be disappointed.

Jennifer Lawrence is relieved however. 😉

 

[Pblakeney]

…on a serious note. It’s not going to happen.
#waronmotorists