Given detention for lateness on tube strike day

[Longingdreamer]

My child was given a detention today, despite there being a tube strike in London, which has caused travel chaos. They early but were apparently still late: roads are almost at a standstill it seems.

They get very upset by detentions, due to underlying neuro diversity.

Aibu to think that the school shouldn't give these on a strike day for minor lateness?

They usually give them, even if a child is only 1 minute late, but it seems wicked when it is out of their control.

I'm my experience, the private sector is much more flexible and trusting. I was public sector and being late really want an option. My private sector mates (basically most of my friendship group) seen to be able to swan in when it suits.
I've been somewhat envious of that for years.

Agreed. I work for the NHS and timeliness is expected (but even then lateness on a tube strike is understood). Friends and family who work in the private sector have generally very flexible and understanding employers. It's market forces: in the NHS there is one monopoly employer, whereas in the private sector there are many employers, and they need to compete in order to be able to recruit and retain staff.

Regardless, both would understand being 5 minutes late on a tube strike day with total closure.

Cycling in London is a death sentence

i also wouldn’t want my child cycling around London - silly comment

Do you live in London ../ I do and it’s dangerous ! Cycling is so unsafe ! It’s carnage on the roads even when there isn’t a tube strike. I hate Mumsnet it really doesn’t bring out the worst ninnis with their silly opinions just to be the opposite

If your child is ND get a letter from a professional…. There is actually lots of “professionals” who oppose draconian punishments like detentions doing more harm than good … read up on it.

I certainly will not be allowing my ND daughter face detentions at school.

at one point in time hitting children with rulers and canes was seen to be good punishment … now it’s illegal and rightly fully so —- it is physical abuse… detention is a humiliation tactic which actually doesn’t resolve anything … especially if it isn’t your child’s fault and out of her control … on top of that she is ND poor on behalf of the school

My 20 year old daughter cycled to uni & work in London and honestly she felt like she was risking her life every single day!

A neuro diverse 11 year old should not be attemtpting it.

1.3 million cycle journeys in london every day, are they all 'ninnis'? Your view if the world is not the only one

The majority adults and older teens cycling are non ninnis. My daughter was not one although she acknowledged the danger.

An adult, however, saying that an unconfident neuro diverse 11 year old MUST be cycling in London traffic, is a nincompoop. For a start we don't know if OP's daughter has co-ordination issues (common, my son has decided to stop his driving lesons as he is dangerous and has panic attacks) or balance/mobility issues (common in ND people)

We're not in London but still a big enough road network, and there's very little cycling to school here after a 13yo pupil at my kids school was killed two years ago today while cycling to school. The roads are so big and unruly here that it seems terrifying to allow a child to cycle on them

No-one said that should happen, i said cycling is a valid option for some people of varying ages.

But this whole thread is about an 11 year old ND girl. And my much older daughter felt unsafe whilst cycling in London too.

Some posters referred to adults who had trouble getting to work, thereby expanding the conversation

Do you live in London ? No I don’t think you do. Cycling can be dangerous… who are you to tell people what they should do, they might be disabled and unable to cycle. I called you a Mumsnet Ninni for the passive aggressive attitude which seems to be rife on Mumsnet !

Many adults are also unable to cycle, due to it being actually quite unsafe in London to cycle, people with disabilities, people with anxiety… not helpful for people to project on to others …. It’s actually quite abusive.

I am a pedestrian … I have walked everywhere in London for over 20 years …. I feel very unsafe walking in London let alone cycling….. it’s become even more dangerous with the lack of accountability on the roads and the scooters and e bikes …. Definitely very unsafe !

The e bikes & scooters are a total menace. My daughter has had some very close shaves with them both as a cyclist (on a designated cycle path) and a pedestrian. And then in the west end (where she worked) there are those awful rickshaw things.

Some parts may be unsafe to cycle, but London has an extensive network of cycle lanes, quiet cycle routes down back streets and cycle superhighways. The huge success of Lime bikes shows that many Londoners or those visiting have felt confident enough to hop on 2 wheels.

Of course not everyone is able to cycle due to disabilities, old (or young) age etc.

I cycle in London, but the infrastructure is generally pretty poor. There is little in the way of truly protected cycle paths, and a bit of paint on the road does not make cyclists safer. In fact, it often endangers cyclists.

I have been hit several times while cycling in London. I wouldn't allow my child to cycle here. If we lived somewhere like Amsterdam then I probably would.

Lime bike are dangerous and a nuisance! Not a great example to use.

1. They cannot go up curbs very well… know so many people who have fallen off and had quite nasty accidents - one now sueing them because she has lost the full use of her right hand. She is an artist …
2. They encourage people not to wear helmets … I don’t think I have ever seen a person wearing a helmet whilst riding a lime bike!
3. Kids and junkies using them illegally and haphazardly endangering pedestrians and other cyclists … I have seen so many accidents now
4. Idiots leaving them all over the pavements a massive hazard for people , disabled people and blind people in particular!

London streets have become even more dangerous since they have been allowed… in fact many boroughs are now taking active steps to ban them.

As the original poster mentioned .. cycle lanes painted on the road doesn’t mean it’s safe… it isn’t … you clearly don’t live here and walk around London everyday to see this for yourself !

anyway off topic this is about detentions

@Feelingsosoblue yes about 95% of Lime bikes I see being used make that clicking sound - which means they've been hacked to use without paying.
Then they get abandoned all over the bloody footpath blocking the way.
Stupid things.

Yep…. They are dangerous… people speeding along pavements. I no longer allow my children to walk about London freely like they used to, in fear of being hit by a lime bike or an electric scooter…. They should be banned!

Hire bikes are a game changer for cities, they're a great way to get around and their popularity is only growing. Times move on, cities evolve. Cars can't dominate forever.

Well unfortunately too many people can't follow the rules of how to use them.

I have lived here all my life (54 years). For many years I cycled to work. DH cycles to work everyday. I was last on my bike yesterday cycling into town via quiet routes. When I commute to work by train (too unfit and lazy to commute by bike any more) I see cyclists all the time.

Yes, Lime bikes can be a menace but lots of people use them to commute (so not messing around on them) and their popularity suggests that people aren’t necessarily scared of cycling because it’s unsafe, which is the point I’m making. One of my colleagues is Lime biking too work every day as it’s quicker and cheaper than the tube. He’s not the only one.

It's ridiculous to generalise about cycling in London.

I can get the 5 miles to work with 80% of the route in a park or on a canal path, and most of the remaining 20% on quiet residential roads. (Which is why I have just got a bicycle)

DD goes 6 miles to College and it is 80% busy, crowded roads that are dangerous for cyclists, especially at rush hour. No way is she cycling!