To make the kids walk 3miles to school?

How old are they? If they are middle school aged, or older, absolutely let them walk! It will be good for them. I lived about a 10 minute walk from both the high school and middle school in the town where my kids attended (the schools were next to one another) and they bitched like you would NOT believe because I made them walk. (Even if it was raining. That's why umbrellas were invented)
Somehow, they survived. Also--it's totally insane, but some parents DROVE their little darlings to school every. single. day. Until they turned 16, and then they got a brand new car. Ugh. (this is in the US)

Only if they’re the ones giving non drivers shit!

If those who don't drive get shit about missing important life skill, inability to function as an adult, user etc. It is only fair thay cyclists get is aswell. Equality 💪🏻

Same. But be careful I was interrogated about it earlier!

'At those ages and with no additional
meeds, would be a bit sad if they couldn’t ride bikes…'

I am 70 and have never learned to ride a bike!

I think expecting kids to do a daily 10k over hilly terrain while loaded down with heavy packs in unpleasant weather conditions 5 days a week is wildly unreasonable. I think they'll end up with health problems from it.

They're not in fucking boot camp in the Army.

I walk a mile to the train station and then after a ten minutes on the train a further nearly two miles to my workplace and the same home again. I love it! I just wear waterproof coat and boots if it rains, did not realise it was such a big deal!

Did your dh really do your head in over something as mild an issue as this?

Oh sorry. I thought this thread was about the benefits of walking to school vs driving?

What is it actually about? Perhaps you could enlighten me because all your posts seem to be about the same thing as I am writing about 🤔

Here’s some research in the meantime

https://www.cam.ac.uk/research/news/children-who-walk-to-school-less-likely-to-be-overweight-or-obese-study-suggests

• “aim for an average of at least 60 minutes of moderate or vigorous intensity physical activity a day across the week”

https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/exercise/physical-activity-guidelines-children-and-young-people/

https://www.childrenssociety.org.uk/what-we-do/blogs/importance-movement-mental-health

My mum always made me walk everywhere and I definitely moaned about it at times. She told me a few years ago that some other parents thought she was really harsh making us always walk, but now I'm an adult I really appreciate what she did - I grew up fit and healthy thanks to her.

@Thedevilhasfinallycaughtupwithhim I am astonished you keep harping on about a topic that is not what the OP is about, purposefully being obtuse and ignoring the context of the thread. Maybe you should start your own thread instead of hijacking this one, you are clearly desperate for attention. I won’t be engaging with you further, you clearly lack skills in reading comprehension.

No has claimed it will “solve” anything.

Only that it will lessen problems currently growing at alarming rates.

There is so much research on the benefits of gentle exercise that I’m astounded you’re denying the very strong link between gentle exercise and health and wellbeing.

I walk this distance, every day. Rain or shine. I am not tired afterwards. It’s a very gentle form of exercise and an opportunity to spend some time in the fresh air.

Everyone driving everywhere, normalising being sedentary, is having enormous repercussions on our generation and the ones after us.

26% of children are now overweight or obese.
65% of adults are now overweight or obese.

Do you think we should be looking towards the American model of driving everywhere or other nation’s models of walking and cycling?

Oh how fun for you to watch other people’s misery. What a delight you are. You sound like a real peach op - poor bloody kids. I hope their father has a backbone or grows one and stands up for them.

Well yes, quite. Somehow this thread has segued into the ridiculous narrative that walking 6 miles a day in shitty weather while carrying a heavy bag will solve obesity and mental health problems. Lots of purposefully obtuse and hyperbolic nonsense being spouted.

No one is saying that walking isn’t great exercise. Or even that 6 miles is far. Posters are pointing out that a walk of this distance to and from school, over hilly terrain in crappy weather and likely with heavy bags is unlikely to be an enjoyable experience due to this context. Personally I wouldn’t want my children to arrive at school already tired and wet from the elements, I don’t think is conducive to learning. I would find an alternative solution.

Then again I don’t have a chip on my shoulder and misguided notions around ‘well I walked 14 miles in 30 minutes back in my day’ that I want to inflict upon my children.

I'm glad you weren't my mother!

I agree, walking to school a hardship?! 🙄😁
I've always thought a lot of (not all!) drivers get lazy - they'll literally drive down the road sometimes when it's just as easy to walk.
It's not hardship to walk to school for goodness sake.
Used to walk with mine daily, it was about half an hour there, half an hour back. So about an hour a day in total.

How convenient that you “cant be bothered”

Do you find this is a common theme in your life?

It certainly seems to be

It’s not hardship.

It’s gentle exercise.

This thread is wild but explains so much about the problems in our culture.

I've walked further so have my kids. Not everyone has a suitable bus route. 3 miles is fine and for most children the only opportunity for exercise.

Back in the day, we walked 6 miles there, 6 miles back, in 3ft of snow.
On good days we biked both ways.

Not everyone in in 'Mental Health Crisis' or is 'obese'. Why are some of you delighting in putting your kids through hardship?

I certainly would not make my kids walk 6 miles a day to and from school - school bus if you dont have a car.

I would have a chat with the workmen and see if there will be any days where they can leave the way clear for the school run. We had this when they put in broadband, most days we could with the dug up bit left covered for the section we had to pass, we only had one day we couldn't go out (in any direction) for about 4 or 5 hours.

I’d like you to explain because I’m intrigued as to why you consider something so logical as to be obvious is ignorant.