We have an average of four kids who congregate at our house and then bike to school together. Being in a group, in their experience, is safer in that it provides 8 eyes and 4 brains to watch for traffc and other dangers. It's also a lot of fun for them and us to get together and socialize in the morning, and for us to get to know them more as they continue to change and grow. It's been a great neighborhood-community builder.
It is possible to buck the trend, and I believe school newsletters should be spreading the word about the advantages of kids escorting themselves to school. > ---------- > From: Steve Meiers[SMTP:[EMAIL PROTECTED]] > Sent: Monday, January 13, 2003 2:06 PM > To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]; [EMAIL PROTECTED]; [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Subject: Re: [Bikies] Parents Misbehave In School Car Lines > > The Madison School District provides buses for kids who live more than 1.5 > miles from school or have some unusual circumstances. For example Lapham > school serves k-2 kids who live on the Isthmus and is on E Dayton while > Marquette is Jenifer St and serves kids grades 3-5. Kids get bussed on > either side of the Isthmus rather than have to cross Gorham, Johnson, E > Wash and Willy Sts. > > Part of the change is demographic- In a lot of familes both parents work > so one drops the kids off on the way to work. > > More of the change is attitudinal. Parents think they are being > responsible by driving them, protecting them from traffic problems and > strangers who are out there ready to abuct their kids. Of course a lot of > the safety problems around schools are caused by parents and having > parents drop their kids off only adds to the congestion and hazards. > > And sad to say some families are so busy going in every which direction > that for some the 10 minute drive every day is one of the few chances for > 'quality time.' > > Note this is a national trend not just here or in Tampa. > > _______________________________________________ > Bikies mailing list > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > http://www.danenet.org/mailman/listinfo/bikies > _______________________________________________ Bikies mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.danenet.org/mailman/listinfo/bikies
