Comments on: Bike Bans: A Serious Threat to Safe Routes to School http://www.streetsblog.org/2009/07/24/bike-bans-a-serious-threat-to-safe-routes-to-school/ Covering the New York City Streets Renaissance Fri, 10 Feb 2012 16:07:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: James http://www.streetsblog.org/2009/07/24/bike-bans-a-serious-threat-to-safe-routes-to-school/comment-page-1/#comment-89221 James Mon, 27 Jul 2009 23:08:09 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/?p=16351#comment-89221 I wrote a Safe Routes grant for the community where I work as a planner and put in money for bike racks. The school district was horrified at the idea and shot it right down. Non-negotiable due to liability fears. There's gotta be a way to bring the school districts around but I've racked my brain over the last year and haven't been able to figure one out. They are just massively risk-averse and set in their ways. I wrote a Safe Routes grant for the community where I work as a planner and put in money for bike racks. The school district was horrified at the idea and shot it right down. Non-negotiable due to liability fears. There’s gotta be a way to bring the school districts around but I’ve racked my brain over the last year and haven’t been able to figure one out. They are just massively risk-averse and set in their ways.

]]> By: Charlie http://www.streetsblog.org/2009/07/24/bike-bans-a-serious-threat-to-safe-routes-to-school/comment-page-1/#comment-89041 Charlie Mon, 27 Jul 2009 17:59:20 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/?p=16351#comment-89041 If I were in such an area, our kids would bike to school every day. When the school subsequently attempts to shut it down/suspend or whatever recourse, I'd be sure to invite the media and stir things up. This makes me angry to my core. If I were in such an area, our kids would bike to school every day. When the school subsequently attempts to shut it down/suspend or whatever recourse, I’d be sure to invite the media and stir things up. This makes me angry to my core.

]]> By: ChipSeal http://www.streetsblog.org/2009/07/24/bike-bans-a-serious-threat-to-safe-routes-to-school/comment-page-1/#comment-88671 ChipSeal Mon, 27 Jul 2009 12:10:15 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/?p=16351#comment-88671 How can the school extend their authority beyond the school property? How can they regulate public streets? Just ride your bike to school and lock it outside the school fence. Why is that so hard? How can the school extend their authority beyond the school property? How can they regulate public streets? Just ride your bike to school and lock it outside the school fence. Why is that so hard?

]]> By: Stella Bonaparte http://www.streetsblog.org/2009/07/24/bike-bans-a-serious-threat-to-safe-routes-to-school/comment-page-1/#comment-88331 Stella Bonaparte Sun, 26 Jul 2009 14:47:53 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/?p=16351#comment-88331 Hello, I am the facilitator of "Collingswood Streets," which is mobilizing to overturn the bike ban at our elementary schools. The thing that is most frustrating about the ban is that we are a very walkable community in comparison with most. Collingswood is a first-ring suburb and each elementary school is within walking and biking distance for the kids. I've been told from several sources that the ban was instated after a child on a bike was hit by a car. No mention yet about when cars will be banned. Hello, I am the facilitator of “Collingswood Streets,” which is mobilizing to overturn the bike ban at our elementary schools. The thing that is most frustrating about the ban is that we are a very walkable community in comparison with most. Collingswood is a first-ring suburb and each elementary school is within walking and biking distance for the kids. I’ve been told from several sources that the ban was instated after a child on a bike was hit by a car. No mention yet about when cars will be banned.

]]> By: W. K. Lis http://www.streetsblog.org/2009/07/24/bike-bans-a-serious-threat-to-safe-routes-to-school/comment-page-1/#comment-88021 W. K. Lis Sat, 25 Jul 2009 21:23:53 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/?p=16351#comment-88021 There is also the problem with street designs themselves. Current new subdivisions discourages walking and bicycling. There is a lack of sidewalks, which means that kids have to walk on unsafe roads. Cul-de-sacs, circular roads and dead-end roads, add unneeded distance. One may even have a schoolyard in their own backyard on the other side of a high fence, but to get to the school requires either a 15 minute walk in the opposite direction or a drive to get there. The old grid pattern of roads with sidewalks are a better design There is also the problem with street designs themselves. Current new subdivisions discourages walking and bicycling. There is a lack of sidewalks, which means that kids have to walk on unsafe roads. Cul-de-sacs, circular roads and dead-end roads, add unneeded distance. One may even have a schoolyard in their own backyard on the other side of a high fence, but to get to the school requires either a 15 minute walk in the opposite direction or a drive to get there.

The old grid pattern of roads with sidewalks are a better design

]]> By: Ian Turner http://www.streetsblog.org/2009/07/24/bike-bans-a-serious-threat-to-safe-routes-to-school/comment-page-1/#comment-87841 Ian Turner Sat, 25 Jul 2009 15:17:11 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/?p=16351#comment-87841 Cap'n, I wouldn't assume that public schools have liability insurance, as the taxpayer can always be left on the hook for any torts. Furthermore, as has been noted above, cycling to school is much safer than driving, so it's not clear why an actuary would lower the premium for banning cycling. Cap’n, I wouldn’t assume that public schools have liability insurance, as the taxpayer can always be left on the hook for any torts. Furthermore, as has been noted above, cycling to school is much safer than driving, so it’s not clear why an actuary would lower the premium for banning cycling.

]]> By: Cap'n Transit http://www.streetsblog.org/2009/07/24/bike-bans-a-serious-threat-to-safe-routes-to-school/comment-page-1/#comment-87831 Cap'n Transit Sat, 25 Jul 2009 14:08:20 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/?p=16351#comment-87831 <blockquote>Schools often use liability concerns to get out of taking account of walking and bicycling to school conditions.</blockquote> Presumably, schools have some kind of liability insurance, and are afraid of seeing their premiums go up. Has anyone been looking at this angle?

Schools often use liability concerns to get out of taking account of walking and bicycling to school conditions.

Presumably, schools have some kind of liability insurance, and are afraid of seeing their premiums go up. Has anyone been looking at this angle?

]]> By: Rich Wilson http://www.streetsblog.org/2009/07/24/bike-bans-a-serious-threat-to-safe-routes-to-school/comment-page-1/#comment-87731 Rich Wilson Sat, 25 Jul 2009 02:19:24 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/?p=16351#comment-87731 This has come up on Freerange Kids. http://freerangekids.wordpress.com/2009/06/13/free-range-kids-outrage-of-the-week-no-biking-to-school/ This is in WA state, but one of the comments has a pretty extreme example from NJ. What most of us are baffled by is how a school can ban kids from riding to school EVEN WITH THEIR PARENTS! I thought this was the Land of the Free, Home of the Brave? This has come up on Freerange Kids. http://freerangekids.wordpress.com/2009/06/13/free-range-kids-outrage-of-the-week-no-biking-to-school/

This is in WA state, but one of the comments has a pretty extreme example from NJ. What most of us are baffled by is how a school can ban kids from riding to school EVEN WITH THEIR PARENTS! I thought this was the Land of the Free, Home of the Brave?

]]> By: herenthere http://www.streetsblog.org/2009/07/24/bike-bans-a-serious-threat-to-safe-routes-to-school/comment-page-1/#comment-87691 herenthere Sat, 25 Jul 2009 00:21:22 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/?p=16351#comment-87691 Not to mention: encouraging students to bike or walk to school would help better their health. Not to mention: encouraging students to bike or walk to school would help better their health.

]]> By: Lizzzzzzzz http://www.streetsblog.org/2009/07/24/bike-bans-a-serious-threat-to-safe-routes-to-school/comment-page-1/#comment-87531 Lizzzzzzzz Fri, 24 Jul 2009 20:36:25 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/?p=16351#comment-87531 I would like to say, I'm sure PLENTY of schools have considered how awesome it would be if they banned teenagers from driving to school. At the public boarding school I attended for 11th and 12th grade, The North Carolina School of Science and Math, cars were prohibited except on prom night. If we wanted to drive anywhere, we had to be signed out of campus. I would like to say, I’m sure PLENTY of schools have considered how awesome it would be if they banned teenagers from driving to school.

At the public boarding school I attended for 11th and 12th grade, The North Carolina School of Science and Math, cars were prohibited except on prom night. If we wanted to drive anywhere, we had to be signed out of campus.

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