When did it become The School Run

[LordOfTheFlies]

Just been reading the post about letting a child walk to school.We're in the process of making letting DS 11yo walk out alone.Since Reception its been take DCs in and stand while they go in, then not released until they see a parent/guardian there, up to end of Yr 3.
Its not a flame on the S/Run mums who drive everyday (although they make the roads round the school hazardous as the double park/yellow line park/zigzag park/ hurtle down very narrow road like Lewis Flippin' Hamilton)
When I was at school -many years ago- we got ourselves there and back.When did it change? Is this the price we pay for child safety?

I didn't walk to school as a child. At all. Distance thing, plus mum used to drop us off on her way to work.

We walk ds1 to/from school prettywell every day, depends on after school commitments and what I'm doing each day. On an average week, 8 out of the 10 drop offs/pick ups are on foot.

He shan't be going alone for some time though, due to having to cross a v busy road, twice. I reckon probably about year 6, if he's grown out of his daydreaming phase by then! Though that's the year ds2 starts school, so I shall be walking that way anyway...

COCKadoodledoo a few of DS friends Yr 6 walk to school but I have to take DD so we go together and chat.he's gone from daydreaming to whittering on about Halo/X-box.At least he doesn't think now he can jump over cars.
I don't think many secondary school kids would want mum to take them (heres hoping)
He's offered to take my DD to school.I don't flipping think so Sonny !

I do suspect that now a much larger proportion of mums have to drop their DCs at school then drive on to work rather than being SAHMs like years ago.

I do not drive (for medical and environmental reasons) and find it hard sometimes not to be a bit "Grrr" at those that do, so making the streets around our schools more unsafe for children to walk to school.

When my DS started secondary last September we hadn't managed to move house to be near the school so he went by bus (2.5 miles). Due to school traffic this would take over an hour. He now walks the 10 minutes from our new house to the school and has lost 7lbs in weight and has stopped looking like a lard-arse!

I think it's probably a combination of things -

• more women can drive
• more families have 2 cars (cars are cheaper than they were)
• roads are busier and there are more cars on them which discourages some from walking
• kids don't all go to school within their local catchment area anymore
• More pre-school children go to nursery which implies a multiple drop off which may only be manageable by car
• people worry about abduction more, even though it's not actually more likely