Lollypop ladies
Discussion
I always thought their powers extended to stopping traffic only for kids on their way to/from school. In one 1 mile stretch today I got stopped 4 times, only once for kids, the other 3 for an old man, some women with shopping and a group of feckless looking youths with cans of Stella, who I had an urge to run over.
Anybody know the limit of their powers?
vonhosen said:
monkeyhanger said:
A quick bit of Googling suggests their powers were extended from Children Only to Any pedestrian......
Correct
They are usually found around the radius of a school und they can help any one to cross a road. I think only right as elderly und disabled will find them particularly helpful.. und if children/teenagers see grown ups setting example of utilising the lolly chaps/chapesses... then they will be more inclined to use themselves too.
Children do learn from good example set.. I should know a thing or two .. am a Mama .. have given birth to five, adopted two .. und we foster other children too. Not truly altruistic - I think I gain a better learning curve und understanding of life from caring for these children und I hope und think they gain from living with us too. (Certainly they leave us with road sense und a love of cars 
und they all keep in touch with us too - ist nice to be remembered at birthdays und Christmas und just asked for advice every now und then) But all this experience do tell me that they learn from exammple as well as experience.. so see nothing wrong with adult using the services of the lolly people Und I will cross with them myself too .. und will chat too - as "chat" ist also social skill und by "chat und tone of voice und body language" - you then become aware of "red signals" which alert to friend und foe... On internet fora .. ist a turn of phrase - nicht?
Think I posted in past.. lolly geezer who work outside school which current foster boy attend ist just a lovely elderly gent. He waves, salutes the cars und always has such a lovely smile und his relationship with the children und parents und community at large..
I hesitate to name this person on any internet site without seeking his permission first .. but this person ist such a lovely, cheerful, heartwarming character .. ist a pure joy to stop the car for him. Und I know him by name .. und we chat, set the world straight und he ist no fan of speed cams either [quote=monkeyhanger]A quick bit of Googling suggests their powers were extended from Children Only to Any pedestrian in 2000.
Well,if our lawmakers think that 'any pedestrian' needs the assistance of a lollipop lady/man
shouldnt there be an army of tens of thousands of them in every road in the country 24/7 ?
]
Well,if our lawmakers think that 'any pedestrian' needs the assistance of a lollipop lady/man
shouldnt there be an army of tens of thousands of them in every road in the country 24/7 ?
]
My mum is a lollypop lady and everday is hassled by Max power yobs etc. She does this in all weathers for very little money and little thanks judging by previous posts to get our kids to school safley. Dont want to turn this in to a rant so whoever she assists across the road give them a break.
monkeyhanger said:
A quick bit of Googling suggests their powers were extended from Children Only to Any pedestrian in 2000.
Quite ridiculous that grown-ups require assistance to cross a road if perfectly healthy.
Quite ridiculous that grown-ups require assistance to cross a road if perfectly healthy.
Edited by monkeyhanger on Monday 2nd October 16:50
Whilst I partially agree there is potentially an argument that help may be needed during the busy period that school opening and closing creates. I know that there is a Lollilop lady at Turners Hill in the mornings. Without her the mums walking their kids to school would never get the traffic to stop to allow them to safely cross the road!
Equally making it safer for parents, grandparents safer to walk kids/grandkids to school, means less cars clogging up the roads!
Fortunately Lollipop people aren't around at other times.........................yet!
v8 said:
My mum is a lollypop lady and everday is hassled by Max power yobs etc. She does this in all weathers for very little money and little thanks judging by previous posts to get our kids to school safley. Dont want to turn this in to a rant so whoever she assists across the road give them a break.
v8 said:
My mum is a lollypop lady and everday is hassled by Max power yobs etc. She does this in all weathers for very little money and little thanks judging by previous posts to get our kids to school safley. Dont want to turn this in to a rant so whoever she assists across the road give them a break.
Lollipop people do an essential job for a pittance. They have to be there twice a day each school day, and only get paid a few pounds for an hour or so's work. It's the ultimate split shift, but without any fringe benefits. They do it out of a love for the children, and sometimes get flak from drivers who hate to stop.
We had a great lollipop man in our village until he was falsely accused of -- let's just say "things" -- and naturally immediately prevented from doing his job (yes, he was eventually found innocent but the damage was done). Since then the position has been vacant, and in desperation we are now to have a Puffin crossing (no, not a bird, a zebra
). It's an eyesore, brings masses of white paint, poles and fancy paving to a rural village, and all because lollipop people are not valued enough to make it worth people's while to do the job. During the "interregnum", children have had to cross with adults. You would think that drivers would recognise the need to be careful when driving down a road that leads to a village primary school during "go to school" hours, but no. I've personally had cars actually accelerate towards me when crossing the road with children. My wife was badly knocked on her arm by the wingmirror of a car driving too close to the kerb.
Sorry for the rant, but I think if we had more lollipop people near to schools we might find drivers being more careful and the public cry for more speed cameras abating. They (generally) do a great job.
puggit said:
It is an offence to not stop for a lollipop lady - their sign is the equivalent of a standard roadside STOP sign 
Edited to add - or was it a red light?
The majority of lollypop ladies I've seen would not attract attention if standing under a red light (except maybe to certain sections of the population with tastes markedly different to mine)! Mind you, there was something in one of the dailies this week about a prospective lollypop lady who was turned down for the job because she was too attractive, with a figure that would distract male motorists (I'm thinking the Sophie Dahl advertisment here!) - Streaky Edited to add - or was it a red light?
Edited by puggit on Monday 2nd October 16:56
Edited by streaky on Wednesday 4th October 18:10
vonhosen said:
v8 said:
My mum is a lollypop lady and everday is hassled by Max power yobs etc. She does this in all weathers for very little money and little thanks judging by previous posts to get our kids to school safley. Dont want to turn this in to a rant so whoever she assists across the road give them a break.
Totally agree, Lollipop ladies are one of Britain's little eccentricities, long may they serve!
Lollipop lady in Bermondsey helps people across the pedestrian crossing complete with traffic lights.
IMHO - Complete waste of space, if the council has already gone to the trouble of putting signs and traffic lights etc.
However, I appreciate they do perform a role for very young kids (but then wouldn't they be with their parents). I always felt patronised that the lollipop lady thought I needed help to cross the road at 13+
IMHO - Complete waste of space, if the council has already gone to the trouble of putting signs and traffic lights etc.
However, I appreciate they do perform a role for very young kids (but then wouldn't they be with their parents). I always felt patronised that the lollipop lady thought I needed help to cross the road at 13+
I'll get me coat.southpaw said:
Theres one who I drive past on the way home from school but she works at a traffic light controlled crossing 
Since when did kids not know to press the button and wait for the little green man?
Since when did kids not know to press the button and wait for the little green man?She's not only there to press the button. She's there to make sure they wait for the lights to change before crossing.
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