I think this is a really tricky area. I quite agree that we shouldn't wrap our kids up in cotton wool and should teach them to be independent and enjoy some freedom. I think it is ridiculous the number of parents who could easily walk to the Dulwich schools who make such short unnecessary car journeys. However I do not think an 8 year old should be given the responsibility of getting herself and her brother to school safely every morning. The traffic around the South Circular, Dulwich Village and the schools is intense and not particularly cycle-friendly. Even if the children are on the pavements they still have to cross busy roads and I can quite understand the genuine concerns of other parents and the Headmaster.Why doesn't one of them cycle with the children? I do not think the couple should have exposed their family to this degree of media attention where both sides of the argument can be distorted to make a good story.