School Drop off in bike lane
Since the start of the school year I have noticed a significant increase in the number of parents illegally dropping of their kids in active bike lanes this year. I was wondering if anyone else had noticed this.
One particular location which has been a problem this year is in the bike lane along Grand Junction Rd outside St Paul's College, Gilles Plains where there are always cars dropping off a kids in the morning when I go past. Apart from the hazard for general cyclists, they would be a hazard for any students riding to the School.
In this case, I intend to contact the School in the first instance to ask them to let parents know that they should not be dropping kids off in a bike lane as it is both illegal and creates a hazard. I will also let them know that if it continues, they will be reported to police with possible fines and demerit point applying.
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Tim on -
I don't understand the choices. Is that one of them false dichotomies?
What I have found is that when I cycle at the speed limit in 25km/h school zones I am hassled by impatient motorists who want to break the speed limit.
And when I drive at the speed limit in 25km/h school zones I am tailgated by impatient motorists who want to break the speed limit.
And worse, when I give way to pedestrians, cyclists, skateboarders, scooter riders, prams, etc. this foments a safety problem because instead of slowing down, impatient motorists not only want to break the speed limit, but they want to do it on the wrong side of the road as they rush to illegally overtake. To avoid this I don't follow my natural instincts to give way to children unless there is absolutely no way that the following car can try and speed around me - like there is a dirty great roundabout or traffic island in their way.
You suggested lowering the speed limit, how about simply enforcing the current speed limits, parking rules and road rules around schools?
In fact why not implement lower speed limits and much tougher penalties around schools? Mandatory 3 month loss of licence might modify dangerous behavour and calm the angry traffic. People would soon learn to avoid driving in school zones. There might be the added benefit that a few lard asses are forced to walk their children to school rather than race them there in their SUVs which wouldn't be such a bad thing.
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Permalink Reply by Don (Who's lost?) Nairn on -
Perhaps a different spin should be put on people who don’t follow the road rules around schools?
Just call them kid killers.
After all some kids probably do ride bikes.
Heaven forbid that parents may think their children are valuable enough to park the car legally and then walk a short distance with their children to see their children to school safely.
After all a few minutes of their day is much more important than their kids.
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Permalink Reply by heather on -
Don, I like the stark reminder of your phrase 'kid killers' but who will be game to run with it?
By the way, a reason why cycling facilities and safety was improved in The Netherlands was because too many children on bikes were filled. My reference is the great cycling site by David Hembrow (?), a cyclist who moved from UK to The Netherlands.
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Permalink Reply by Karl Harder on -
David,
I sent an email to the school earlier this year in regards to this matter with no reply. I also contacted the council too. It is amazing that it still happens as frequently now as it was in the beginning of the year. It is also crazy that they can drop their kids off around the corner away from cycling lanes
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Permalink Reply by David Bowler on -
I suspect that the school has not passed on such messages as it appears to have come as a complete shock to people when they have been booked.
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