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A south London school has said it will ban children from cycling to school if they do not put number plates on their bikes.
From 1st October, all students from Stanley Park High in Carshalton will be required to display a school-issued bike number plate when riding to and from school.
A statement on the school’s website said: “The aim of the scheme is to promote cycling as healthy, fun and a means of transport.
“Safety issues will be central to our scheme, including visibility, road awareness and bike maintenance.
“Workshops will be offered to students, and subsidised equipment such as cycle lights will be made available.”
This scheme has been met with criticism by some, including former professional cyclist and Greater Manchester’s cycling and walking commissioner Chris Boardman who tweeted: "If I was one of the school governors, I’d be stepping in about now."
In December, Cycling UK called on schools to stop making cycling to work ‘difficult’.
Duncan Dollimore, Cycling UK’s head of campaigns and advocacy said: “Active pupils are frequently healthier and more attentive students, which is why Cycling UK wants schools to stop making cycling to school difficult, and make active journeys easier and more attractive.
“Worryingly, we’re seeing head teachers trespassing on parental responsibilities.
“Head teachers have a powerful voice in their community which they should use to encourage their local authorities to adopt 20mph speed limits and traffic calming measures on the streets their pupils are most likely to cycle on.”
