To leave my bike in the school bike rack

[comeandhaveteawithme]

I'm potentially starting a new job in September, when my daughter starts her junior school and I'm just trying to work out the logistics of getting there.
I plan to cycle to school with my daughter, probably needing to take her into breakfast club, and then jump on a bus to get to work (it's too far from her school to cycle, and there's no safe cycle route). I don't drive, so that's not an option. It would be too far for my daughter to manage walking, and there's no bus that goes from where we live, to the school.

She would be able to leave her bike in the school bike rack, but is it cheeky to leave mine there too, so I can get on the bus to work?

I can't ring the school and ask them if they mind because they are closed now, but would you
a) just do it and hope they don't say anything
b) Ask on the day they reopen meaning you may have to rethink your whole getting to work plan, which may not be possible, if they say no.

The bike rack is small, but from previous experience with my son, is never full.

If they say no what do you plan to do?

I was going to ask what the plan B was also?

If it's never full I can't imagine why it would be a problem. As you'll be getting there early, is there space at one end to lock your bike and your daughter's together? Then you wouldn't need to be taking up two spots anyway.

Ask on the first day.

Hmm, it is cheeky, and if you were to ask you might be told no. But if you are dropping at breakfast club, there probably won't be anyone around to tell you that you can't leave it there, and probably no one will notice. I'd probably do it.

But you need a plan B, just in case.

What will happen on half days when the school is locked by the time you're finished work? Or if you're running late and don't arrive by close of school?

Unless the bike racks are generally full every day, it's probably fine - just ask on the first day. You might find, though, that your confidence builds once you've got used to the routine and you might end up cycling to work some days anyway.

If the rack is never full, I'd opt for the forgiveness-over-permission strategy and just start locking it there. It's unlikely to be an active problem worth looking into for anyone, like, oh, there is one extra adult bike in the rack, so what? But you can always just lock the bike to something in the street if needed as most cyclists do if there isn't a dedicated rack available.

I’d walk with her the first day, while she’s on her bike, and ask.
How far is the school?

Will you be around to collect it before the gates are locked up? I don't think this would be allowed in my child's school, I doubt they want any responsibility for your bike.

First of all you don’t know how many children will be cycling to school in the new school year and won’t the school be locked when you finish work so you won’t be able to get your bike on the way home?
you definitely need to ask them . They may answer an email if you send it now as they have only just broken up.

How tall are you OP? It just occurs to me that if your bike is small, it could plausibly be a year 6 pupil's bike and no-one would know it was yours anyway.

Of its never full just lock it and leave it

Why wouldn't you ask?

I'd ask on the first day back.
But you've plenty of time to think up a plan B incase it's a no.

The only reasons I can think of as to why they'd say no is either they don't want the responsibility as you won't be on sight or they don't want to start giving the impression that anyone and everyone can leave bikes/scooters there all day, especially if there's limited space and it limits the amount of children/teachers that can safely leave their own bike there.

There are staff and student bike racks at our school, I think people would just assume it's a staff, supply teacher, visiting sports coaches bike and not saying anything.

Your B plan could be a fold up bike you could take on the bus

Could you walk and she cycles? What about getting home. Is there anywhere outside the school eg railings or a lamppost you could attach it to?

Or in school holidays.

On those occasions, shouldn't what happens to the child be of greater concern than a bike staying in the cycle rack overnight?

I don't see why not, I presume you'll be using annual leave for the school holidays? Your child is attending the school, its not as if you're a total stranger just passing the school and using it as free storage.