Kid banned from cycling to school

News just in: Boris takes the side of the tory-middle-class in fight against "encephalopathic sacred cow of 'elf and safety” shocker.

I actually think the school's got a point. Yes, ride to school. But on their own? When they're 8 and 11, maybe, but 5 is dead young.

Five years old is too frickin young to go to school on your own in my view. And eight years old is too young to be expected to try to deal with blame issues if the five year old wobbles under a car's wheels.

My two are now ten and seven. I let them go off on their own near our house in SE London (although their mother would shit a brick rather than do the same, but she has unaddressed issues) and I think that's fine. I've encouraged her to let them cycle to school together - it's only 400 yds but there is some traffic, so for the moment, I'd have them ride on the pavement. I should add, this is a village in Oxfordshire, not South London BTW.

So, me personally, I think those parents are being a touch keen to let the kids loose on their own. But in a year or two, I'd agree with them.