Posted by Jock on April 01, 2008 at 01:09:03 from 87.105.81.146 user Jock.
Cristian Wolmer's is a UK journalist and rail pundit. I was reading
his blog (he is currently in Holland) when I came across this.
In the UK many parents drive our children to school during all their
I ran outwards, there were just a few students and the odd youngster
on their bikes, but on the way back, the cycle path was full of kids,
parents with kids on bikes, parents with kids on the back, and groups
of teenagers. It was cycle rush hour just before school was starting
and it was so nice seeing all these children cycling to school, from
rather stern looking little blonde girls, maybe just 8 - 9 pushing
determinedly to teenagers larking about and waiting for each other on
corners. And of course none were obese. Nor did any have flash bikes
and not a helmet in sight - why would you need one when you had cycle
paths all the way. It was such a heartening sight. This is so good in
so many ways: the kids are learning independence in a way that ours
are not allowed to do. How many British parents would allow eight
year old girls or boys for that matter, to cycle to school on their
own? Or even walk there? [rest of article]
school years. The Dutch way seems more in keeping with AR's ethos.