How far does your teenager have to walk to school?

[Forgetmenot82]

DS14 hates walking to school - it's approx 0.9 miles. I still have to take my other dc to Primary School by car. I have in the past taken my son a slightly to school by car before my daughter but its a bit out of the way and get stock behind school buses etc...so I've started to say my ds has to walk now. Am I being a hit mean not taking him? Anyway I'm just wondering how far do your dc walk to school or do you drive them when they could easily walk?

I know, he's very sensible, it's the thoughts he gets, he gets worried cars are going to knock him over or mount the pavemen. I get what you're saying though
Sounds hard OP. There are some bad drivers out there tbf. Crossing side roads where vehicles don't always wait for the pedestrian to cross can be scary sometimes.

My DS, 12, walks or cycles 1.6miles to school. And I walk with my DD the same distance to primary school. DD is going to secondary school next year. Both would be aghast at me appearing anywhere near their school to pick them up. I've been told to stay well away

They used to walk about a mile to Primary school. However they are at a private school now and no bus, so I taken them door to door every day. I've added it up that I will have been doing the school run for 22 years straight when they all eventually finish.

Depending on which way. If he takes a shortcut which is fine in summer it's 1.8miles.
Road way is 2.5

He cycles most of the time.

I occasionally take or collect if torrential rain and he can wait in school whilst I do pre school collect which is 2.5 in the opposite direction.

All I know is it takes them 25 minutes

20 minutes on the bus plus 20 minutes walk

Secondary ones walk 1.3 miles each way. Primary one walks 0.9 miles each way.
Too many cars making too much pollution...we just try not to drive those kind of distances full stop.

My teenagers have a 2 mile walk. Up hill in the morning, but naturally downhill in the afternoon. I don’t know if they mind it, I guess I’ve never asked, there’s no way for me to drive them and a bus would be silly for such a short distance, it’d probably take the same amount of time.

For your son OP, would listening to something on the way help? He could use a single earbud to be aware of the traffic noise but perhaps listening to something he enjoys eg music or a podcast could make him feel less alone and less like its dead time?

My husband does drop off in the mornings (on his way to work) but in the afternoon my 5 year old walks 1.3 miles home.

Half a mile.

Well, ds was lucky. He lives about 100 yards from his last school. (Seniors)
Prior to that, about 50m to the bus stop.
Or 6 miles to school if he couldn't be bothered to get up in time...
Back when I was a young dinosaur, I used to walk about 2 miles each day.
Took about 3/4 hour, with a couple of friends.
I would try and get your ds used to walking.

Dd had 2 minute walk, 40 minute train, 10 minute walk.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-42639688

Reminds me of this story

I believe some improvements have since been made to the school

1.7 miles

2.5 miles, I didn't know so I just googled and I'm shocked it's so much.
They don't mind though, they walk or cycle depending on their mood. Lots of their friends also walk.

DS and Dd walk just over 2 miles to get to school each day. It is uphill too!

It's fine op, don't get into the habit or dropping off/picking up. He'll get lazy or lack the confidence to do it himself and you'll end up being a taxi driver.

What about a bus?

DD is 12, autistic and gets the bus 2.2 miles to school and back.

dc1's school was 1.1 miles and dcs 2 + 3 was 1.5 miles.
They always walked as the default starting point. Occasionally I would pick them up if were staying behind after school for something and then would have to walk on own in the dark or rain, or, if they got lucky (once in a blue moon) and I could arrange to be nearby at end of school day.

I think it did them the world of good - apart from the fresh air and exercise, it gave them a good 1/2 hour to 'put the world to rights' with friends as they walked. (sometimes they'd walk quite a bit further than the most direct route, to go via others' houses).

If he isn't walking the route, then he won't meet others who walk the route. That sort of develops naturally by the default of walking the same route. dd1 is still really close with someone she'd never met before (moved into our Rd in Yr 6 and went to a different Primary school) on their first day in Year 7 when they set off at the same time and one of them had the courage to say Hi to the other. They are 22 now and haven't been at school together since Yr11, but formed really good bonds on those walks for 5 years.

Thinking about it, a lot of the friendship groups from my secondary school (back in the dark ages) could be tracked to where people lived - the time you spend at the end of the day, chatting as you walk, is invaluable.

I remember looking at schools and fretting about my boys getting to school. It’s totally normal to either walk or get the bus - but because I walked half a mile I had it in my mind anything further was not ideal.

Currently they walk 0.9 miles which takes about 20 minutes. We’re moving soon, and then it’ll be 1.4 miles which is about 35 minutes.

Which is fine I think. I’ll maybe give them a lift if it’s very wet or they have a lot to carry but they don’t at the moment.