Staff and pupils at Irlam Primary School were left “shocked and shaken” after a young man riding an electric bike allegedly sped through a pedestrian crossing, narrowly missing a member of staff and a child. The incident happened outside the school as children and staff taking part in the school’s Run Club were using the crossing.
School statement on the incident
In a statement posted on the school’s Facebook page, the school said: “We were left shocked and shaken this afternoon after a young male riding an electric bike at speed went straight through our group of Run Club children and staff using the pedestrian crossing outside our school.”
“The cyclist narrowly missed a member of staff and one of our pupils. Thankfully, nobody was hurt, but the consequences could have been devastating.”
Appeal for information and safety concerns
The school expressed disappointment at the incident and appealed to anyone who may know the rider to speak to them about the seriousness of their actions. It added: “We are incredibly disappointed by such reckless and thoughtless behaviour, particularly around young children. If you know who the rider may be, we would simply ask that you have a word with them about the seriousness of their actions.”
The statement also highlighted concerns about the safety of the existing pedestrian crossing, which is used by children and families at the beginning and end of the school day, as well as by whole classes throughout the day. The school said it hoped to explore whether improvements could be made to help keep everyone safe.
Parents share their own near-miss experiences
The school also reminded all road users, including parents and carers dropping off and collecting children, to be mindful of their speed, parking and surroundings near the school. The statement concluded: “Please take care around our school. A moment of carelessness could have life-changing consequences.”
The post prompted a number of parents and members of the public to share their own experiences of near misses and concerns about road safety around the crossing. One parent said: “An electric scooter went through a red light at the crossing a couple weeks ago and narrowly missed my daughter.” Another added: “I’ve lost count of how many times myself and the kids have nearly been run over at that crossing. Not by cars or scooters even, but high school kids on bicycles! Why don’t they understand that if they’re riding on the road, a red traffic light applies to them too. Glad everyone involved is ok.”
Another recalled: “The same thing happened a few weeks ago, same crossing, an electric scooter (on the wrong side of the road) missed my daughter by inches!”
