Stop driving children to school to tackle obesity

I WAS pleasantly surprised to read Councillor Tim Mayer’s letter (Nov 11) extolling the virtues of cycling to school and also encouraging the wearing of cycle helmets. It is unfortunate that seemingly few of the other members of Coventry City Council support his views and continue to vote for the closure of what few cycle lanes we have in this city. I am convinced that the cause of childhood obesity is not all down to the modern diet and is in fact more to do with he lack of exercise that children get. Today’s diet may be high in sugar, fats and carbohydrates but our diet in the 1950s and 60s was not much better. Fruit was only just returning to the shops after rationing and I seem to remember eating copious amounts of bread with every meal, often fried, and taking lard and dripping sandwiches to school. What I also remember is that never once in my whole school life did I get a lift in a car. We either walked or cycled to school every day and only those living more than three miles away were allowed a bus pass. The current problems caused by the ‘school run’ did not exist then, more children seem to be driven to their schools than ever with parents parking inconsiderately and dangerously to get their offspring ever closer to the school gate. Cycling to school should be encouraged by the council but it must be made safe; it would be no benefit at all if it were to result in more bicycles on the pavement. The correct place for bicycles is on the road or cycle paths and all cyclists should wear a cycle helmet. The council could and should make cycling safer in the city and take steps to discourage parents from driving their children to school. Joe Reynolds Styvechale