Some advice on biking to school & using their bike shed.

[fossyant]

Jesus, is it such a big deal to stick a helmet on. Kids do have odd ways of falling off bikes so its wise to pop one on. Certainly saves a trip to Aand E. You signed the bike pass permit rules. The School is only covering their arse as you can bet there are plenty of parents out there who would sue the School if little Johnny fell off his bike on the way to school

 

[Puddles]

They would not get very far if they tried to sue, it is not covered by the school's duty of care, however, by insisting on mandatory helmet wear they could be deemed that they are voluntarily extending their duty of care and thereby giving the opening for being sued that would not be there if they did not do this.

As I stated before my son does wear a helmet, my question was about if they have the authority to dictate what happens, in my time, whilst my child was under my care & off school property with the penalty of withdrawal of school facilities if I do not comply.

 

[ufkacbln]

Jesus, is it such a big deal to stick a helmet on. Kids do have odd ways of falling off bikes so its wise to pop one on. Certainly saves a trip to Aand E. You signed the bike pass permit rules. The School is only covering their arse as you can bet there are plenty of parents out there who would sue the School if little Johnny fell off his bike on the way to school

I agree fully

Jesus, is it such a big deal to stick aThudguard on. Kids do have odd ways of falling over so its wise to pop one on. Certainly saves a trip to Aand E. The School would only be covering their arse as you can bet there are plenty of parents out there who would sue the School if little Johnny fell over on the way to school

 

[RiflemanSmith]

Well, that's rather a bold statement that few who have delved into helmet research reports would agree with, unless you have found some new information?

LOL you really are an idiot.
I don't care if you wear a helmet or not.
I have a helmet I wear it some times, I know it wont give me much protection in a RTA, I am not pro helmet or anti helmet.
If some body wants to wear a helmet or not their choice.
What makes me laugh is people like you so militant about it, you sound like those yanks with there stupid pro gun law slogans that don't really make any sense.
So come on then enlighten me to what negative effect does actually wearing a helmet have?
Causes brain tumours, makes you a social outcast, makes you unstable when you ride in the wind causing you to crash
If you are talking about wearing of a helmet putting people off cycling then that is a different kettle of fish!

OF course they can!

They enforce parental choice on cycle helmets by withdrawing privileges from teh child.

It is so simple to use the same system of censure if a parental choice is to drive or park like a muppet!

It is the same system, and the same authority.... to fail to do so is pure hypocrisy

No it is not the same thing at all.
They are withdrawing the use of the bike sheds how should they enforce the idiots parking?
Taking away the child's lunch?
How about the inconsiderate mums who walk two abreast with thier pushchairs creating a rolling barricade lets take the children's playtime away.
Asking parents to park considerately in school letters and asking the old bill and wasps to come to the school in the mornings is about all they can do as it off the premises and they have NO authority out side the school.
If you say it is the same thing it is not as if they were making you put a helmet on your child then yes it would be but they have no authority to make you or your child wear any thing off school premises.

 

[RiflemanSmith]

I agree fully

Jesus, is it such a big deal to stick aThudguard on. Kids do have odd ways of falling over so its wise to pop one on. Certainly saves a trip to Aand E. The School would only be covering their arse as you can bet there are plenty of parents out there who would sue the School if little Johnny fell over on the way to school

Then they would be wasting their time and money trying to sue a school if a child fell over, really stupid argument put forward!
You are more likely to hurt your self crashing or falling off a bike then you are tripping over.

 

[RiflemanSmith]

Leave it, it doesn't matter if a helmet is a Get Out of Death Free card, the issue here is the Head's attempting to dictate how a parent cares for their child out of school and off school property.
That letter from the head is basically a Please f*** Off letter--let's just reiterate the policy and hope they go away. In the head's defense it may be boilerplate shot out by an admin rather than from the desk of.., but that's no excuse, it's just a politician's answer: 'You've got this wrong'...'Thank you for your comment, let me just repeat what our policy is, now Please f*** Off'

But you have no problem with the child wearing school uniform which you have to pay for?

 

[fossyant]

Storm in a tea cup - he wears a helmet, you signed the 'agreement' - why kick up a fuss ? Oh and your child wouldn't be allowed to do Bikeability or any organised British Cycling events (not SKY ride) without a helmet.

Does the OP ride a bike ?

 

[mcshroom]

Then they would be wasting their time and money trying to sue a school if a child fell over, really stupid argument put forward!
You are more likely to hurt your self crashing or falling off a bike then you are tripping over.

Ooh, evidence please?

 

[Archie_tect]

Wouldn't it be a reasonable idea to ask your child whether he/she would be prepared to wear a helmet to ride his/her bike to school and may prefer you to not make a big issue about it with his/her head teacher. He/she may be perfectly happy to wear a helmet ... ultimately it's his/her decision, not yours?
...though PaulB's point about not being able to afford one is a fair one... but then would they be able to afford to maintain a bike properly in that case?

 

[Mr Haematocrit]

Ooh, evidence please?

Common sense is the only thing which is required..... A bike will go at a higher constant speed when ridden to school as a child that is walking (personally I have not seen to many children sprinting to school).
Just to clarify are you saying that you require evidence that a proportional increase of speed increases the possibility of more serious injury's.
You can find evidence on google images for the difference between gravel rash from a bike accident and motorcycle accident.. Even though these modes of transport are similar being two wheeled, the injury for motorcyclists are generally more serious and a lot of this is due to the higher speeds involved.

 

[fossyant]

Do I smell a Troll ?

 

[Puddles]

To clarify my original post stated:

Hello all

Hoping someone can help, I should first state that I do put helmets on my children, but my mind set waivers on a daily basis with the more I read about them, anyhoo this is not so much helmet or anti-helmet

Having and peered and stuff, it seems even the Government say it should be left up to parents whether to helmet their children, which is fair enough.

BUT, the Head Teacher has said that if my son does not wear a helmet on our journey to school then he cannot park his bike in the bike rack on school premises, I should point out you are not allowed to cycle on school premises, so from the gate he dismounts and pushes the bike.

The bottom line is the school is trying to dictate the safety gear that I put on my child in my time, off of school property with the rider that if I do not comply then my sons bike permit will be removed and no parking his bike at school.

I just think it is stretching her authority a bit far, surely the school has no authority over my child, in my time, off school grounds?

See it is not a helmet thing nor a cycle thing, but being a cycle forum with lots of parents on I thought someone might have had a similar experience and be able to provide me with some answers or assistance or information & I have received some very useful information.

I do cycle it is my most often mode of transport, as I gave up the 2nd car. I cycle with a trailer mostly with my youngest in it.

I have asked my son and gave the answer in a previous post, he says as he did rights at school and they said to stand up for your rights I should stand up for my rights, he also said it was "mean" to make people wear a helmet because bikes & helmets cost money and some people might not have enough money for both.

I have just received another reply from Head to my question

"I would very much like to know on what evidence you base your comment that
"wearing a helmet is a sensible safety measure"

She has replied:
The Local Authority Road Safety Team and the Local Authority School Travelling Team advise schools on road safety matters. As a Headteacher in a Local Authority school I follow their advice and guidance on these matters and have always found them to be helpful and well-informed teams. If you wish to debate the matter of helmet safety further I am happy to give you their contact numbers.

 

[Canrider]

But you have no problem with the child wearing school uniform which you have to pay for?

An odd comparison to make. The OP situation is more akin to the headteacher requiring the children to wear their uniforms at home on the weekend.

 

[mcshroom]

Common sense is the only thing which is required..... A bike will go at a higher constant speed when ridden to school as a child that is walking (personally I have not seen to many children sprinting to school).
Just to clarify are you saying that you require evidence that a proportional increase of speed increases the possibility of more serious injury's.
You can find evidence on google images for the difference between gravel rash from a bike accident and motorcycle accident.. Even though these modes of transport are similar being two wheeled, the injury for motorcyclists are generally more serious and a lot of this is due to the higher speeds involved.

I was asking for the evidence you are more likely to be injured falling off a bike than tripping over. After all this is 'common sense' as you describe it. I'm sure if this is so obvious then the stats will back this up. They don't seem to however - link

 

[fossyant]

I really don't know what your problem is.

I've got two kids, one who cycles to high school every day. Both don't have any problems wearing a helmet, or not. If that was part of the school rules, that using the facility required the kids to have a helmet, then so be it. You signed the acceptance ? My son uses his helmet every day, other than when he forgets it in school and can't be ar$ed to find it again ! My son has two bikes, one for school and one for home/rides.

I'm a very keen cyclist and not a pootler/wobbly bob, and even I wouldn't start having a ding dong with the Head over a trivial matter. TBH, if I was the Head, I'd be ensuring the kids had working brakes first. The flippin standard of most kids bike is shocking.

I even offered to parents at the local Beaver Cub Scout group to do a free check up on their bikes... met one response of 'the bike is new' and another - 'oh you can fix the puncture' - think not !

The Head is only trying to be responsible and fit in line with the Authority. The Head can't win either way !

Storm in a teacup.