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The Beacon School, via StreetView.jpgSurrey school says students can only cycle to school if they fit a number plate to their bikes
Students attending the Beacon School in Banstead were this week informed that they will need number plates on their bikes if they wish to cycle to school.
A letter dated November 13 states that from Monday December 11, all students of the academy school for 11-18 year olds, “will require a cycling permit in the form of a number plate.”
The permit is obtained and issued after students and parents/carers sign a cycling agreement. “The number plate must be attached to the student’s bicycle underneath the seat so that all students can be identified cycling to and from school.”
Students are asked to follow the Highway Code; to take responsibility for the roadworthiness of their bikes; to behave “in a manner which shows them and the school in the best possible light”; and to use bike lights and hi-vis clothing “as appropriate”.
Parents are also advised: “Please note that should a student not ride safely to school or wear a helmet, the school will inform parents and may refuse the student permission to cycle to school in the future. Should a student continue to cycle to school once permission has been revoked the school will lock the bicycle until a parent/carer is available to collect the bicycle.”
The letter begins by listing some of the benefits of cycling to school.
- Improving health through physical activity
- Establishing positive active travel behaviour
- Promoting independence and improving safety awareness
- Reducing congestion, noise and pollution in the community
- Reducing environmental impact of the journey to school
Headteacher Keith Batchelor, who described himself as “a very slow recreational cyclist,” told road.cc:
“I am extremely positive about the role of cycling and the health and wellbeing benefits of cycling. I have seen number plate systems be highly effective in a number of schools which support students to cycle safely to school.
“The system will allow us to target cycle training and safety awareness sessions to our students, to reward good and safe cycling by giving members of the community a way to give us feedback about how our students are using the roads locally. As well as helping us to discuss with students any occasions where their cycling may not meet our expectations.
“Alongside this we are also expecting students to wear helmets, be visible, use lights and ride bikes that are road safe.
“We live in a beautiful area for cycling but also the roads are extremely busy, with the school being next to the A217 which links the M25 with south London. Our refined policy is there to promote safe cycling so that our students can be active lifelong riders.”
Alex has written for more cricket publications than the rest of the road.cc team combined. Despite the apparent evidence of this picture, he doesn't especially like cake.
Latest Comments
- andystow 1 sec ago
The new RH tubes claim to solve that issue, but price and availability is a problem. I tried to get some to try out, but they went out of stock on...
- henryb 12 min 16 sec ago
Disappointed this article doesn't use the words 'boondoggle', 'junket' or 'jamboree'
- brooksby 24 min 21 sec ago
Cough - cough - Clevedon seafront! - cough cough
- eburtthebike 42 min 12 sec ago
Thanks for the tip. I didn't realise the Forest of Dean was inside the M25.
- Adam Sutton 46 min 47 sec ago
Chances are you live in London or somehwere where you have decent public transport, to make such a dumb comment
- Secret_squirrel 3 hours 54 min ago
Those calipers arent the prettiest. Makes them look like Post-mount.
- Dnnnnnn 4 hours 37 min ago
I'm all for a much more socialist approach to the sorts of things you mention, where there are clear market failures and a need for decent...
- David9694 4 hours 38 min ago
Zorbing balls - if it saves just one life
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138 comments
I'm betting the local residents near the school have been complaining about the behaviour of students riding to and from school and have requested (demanded) some way of identifing a rider and being able to report them.
I doubt the school as thought through any reporting system properly wrt the need for supporting evidence, I can see it ending up as residents word against a students.
Personal harrasment might not be wise
Depressing that an actual cyclist thinks this might be a good idea though.
Maybe it's just an 'appeasement' to some local whiners. Doesn't excuse it though.
I live near there and there are a load of knob head drivers in that area. Seems these 'safety measures' are to look out for the children but do nothing to address the irresponsible drivers.
Not sure if this has been asked, but what do these number plates look like and who decides what is written on them?
Zero is a number.
Is 666 free?
Oh god. He's one Of Them: a cyclist who doesn't get it; a car apologist who thinks that because they ride a bike, they can't possibly be on Their side.
Occasionally known as a Willo.
.
outrage.jpg
Don't be silly, already taken by the headmaster.
I've emailed Cycling UK directly regarding this.
This was going to be my exact comment.
I'm all for it after chatting with nbrus about what winds drivers up.
I propose the nbrus number plate system. Each number plate is 3m wide and fixed to the seatpost, the numberplate can be LEDs confirming the subject of the chat, school children to ride side by side for safety.
Sorted.
I thought UK schools were strapped for cash? Why would they spent resources on something that does not make any sense. Unless of course they charge pupils to get those registrations.
Any ideas for the appropriate form of protest since I ride past this school twice a day?
The helmet and glasses combo tell you how often he's out on a bike!
How big are these numberplates, and who pays for them? Are there any photos out there of a bike fitted with one?
Assuming the plate is sized large enouph to be visible from a distance - then its going to be a safty hazard - if one of these plates ends up being a contributing factor in causing an accident and/or injury - would the school be liable??
Is that not theft?
No.
Make yourself multiple copies of their number plates with different numbers. Attach a different one to your bike every day and ride like a twat so they get multiple reports that then don't corroborate with who's riding on that day (or get kids strongly protesting their innocence every day) . Make it unworkable.
What an utterly disgusting attitude.
If my sons school ever come out with such nonsense I'll be telling him to ignore it.
The same is already required of motorists, as all cars are required to have a licence plate.
What it certainly does not do is encourage safe driving and make the roads safer.
Just a reminder that personal abuse is against our T&Cs, folks. We hate deleting comments, so please try and avoid that. Cheers.
Probably also have to dress in school uniform, which might take a little bit of explaining when getting to work.
Not at all. The school does not require the children to get school number plates for their parents' cars. Nor, I imagine, does it have a stated policy that if the car is driven unsafely (or the child does not wear their seatbelt / car helmet) that they will not be allowed to be driven to school. So, no, motorists are not required to do the same.
Try doing that to my child's bike mr Wanker and I'll block your main entrance with a sizeable vehicle every single day until you apologise.
So if the parent does not drive safely to school or wear a seatbelt, the school will inform the authorities and may refuse the parent permission to drive to school in the future?
That would be the equivalent of:
"Please note that should a student not ride safely to school or wear a helmet, the school will inform parents and may refuse the student permission to cycle to school in the future. Should a student continue to cycle to school once permission has been revoked the school will lock the bicycle until a parent/carer is available to collect the bicycle."
The plate is just a part of the issue
Presumably the headmaster is also requesting number plates of parents' and staff vehicles, so any bad driving etc can be cross referenced to a name.
What about if students misbehave and bring the school into disrepute whilst walking to school... How can they be identified?
For what its worth, my daughters' school has been known to contact parents who's cars have been reported as being driven dangerously locally, to warn them and threaten that they will not be allowed to drive onto school premises again.
Would love to see my childrens school lock up cars that are not driven safely to school. Tow away all those parked up on the double yellow lines as well as those on the yellow zig zags
I believe they may be interested in people views: info [at] thebeaconschool.co.uk
I would accept this if they applied the same rule to cars.
Spot a car driving dangerously or parking badly? Simply report the registration and the child will be banned from being driven to school.
I think I would simply do a Jon Snow and bolt-crop the school's lock... and any others they had "enforced". If they did it a second time I would repeat, but then might buy a wheel clamp or big secure chain and secure the headmaster's vehicle.
If I had kids I certainly wouldn't stand for this illegal nonsense.
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