I read this story both in the papery paper and The Yamyam picked it up too: bikes have been banned from a Wednesbury School on ‘heath and safety’ grounds. Bollocks. As usual, it’s an excuse farmed out by those that don’t understand.
Surely this is a case for the other road users in the area to merely take appropriate caution (though sadly many seem unable of doing so)? Or perhaps the pupils should be encouraged to learn how to cycle responsibly on the road (ditto)? These days we’re meant to encourage people to keep fit: I was at my fittest when I cycled to school for a few years (after completing the Cycling Proficiency test a few years before). I also can’t help but wonder how many of them will now get dropped off in a car.
Hmm. If you look into it they don’t have a bike shed and suggest that those kids who want to cycle leave their bikes at friends houses.
This isn’t about road safety or even kids cycling. It’s about the school head not wanting to buy a bike shed, or face the consequences if Tommy’s bike gets nicked or Wayne hits Muzz Jones (double Geog and Latin) while the old crone nips out for an interregnal park drive.
Bikeability is a great scheme; most schools are applying common sense well and these are just aberrant duckwits, but then, it is Wednesbury.
Best wishes
Bob
🙂
Yes, it is ‘the usual excuse’. Want to do something, but feel the need to justify it? Trot out a load of H&S bollocks, because you think no-one can argue.
If bikeability expands on the ideas of the old cycling proficiency, then it’s a good thing for sure. Cyclists make better drivers, and drivers make better cyclists, and thinking makes everyone better.
As it happens, I used to leave my bike at a mate’s house, so the scumbag kids wouldn’t wreck it. I just get tired of H&S being used as an excuse for the weak-minded and stupid, which gives it a bad name.
OK the H&S carrot was dangled.
Why is it always council advised organisations that trot out the stupidest of stupid links to H&S? Because they are ill-informed, under qualified morons.
As it is my job, I feel qualified enough to argue with anyone, including any council employees or voted representiatives that may be monitoring this blog, about the TRUE value of H&S.
It is not something to hide behind. It is about protecting worker rights and social standards to reduce the need less loss of life and disabling injuries suffered every year by irresponsible employers.
I too, m sick of the “balme it on H&S” and no-one can challenge it crap. Check out the HSE website for their “myth of the month”. Hilarious in the main and many involve councils.
Rant over