Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Flip

1 2 ··· 7 8 9 10 11 12

Original poster

AIBU to wish fewer people drove their kids to school?

294 replies

zizza · 13/03/2021 15:31

It's been lovely commuting to work since the schools have been (almost) closed. I thought it was because of people also not working, but turns out most of the traffic at "normal" commuting times is school run traffic - kind of knew that from past experience of how much better it in is school holidays, but this has been highlighted by the Covid situation. AIBU to think that more children should walk to school?

I have had to explain to my mum in the past why people drove to school if they have a job to go to straight after dropping off so don't have time to walk to school and then back home to get the car, but I'm still mystified by how many secondary school age children get dropped off by car (again, I understand that some people live too far away from their secondary school to walk but what happened to kids walking up to about 30 minutes to get to school with their friends?) I think I'm getting old...

OP posts:

Starlightstarbright1 · 14/03/2021 12:36

I do lnow one family. I laugh with my friend as they litterally drive round the corner to the car park. We walk past therr house every day. They are not off to work they drive home again.So yes there are people who would do far better walking.

But for the majority it is need.

Fembot123 · 14/03/2021 12:37

Plenty of dads drop off in cars as my DS primary and plenty of them idle their engines

Shelovesamystery · 14/03/2021 12:41

@arethereanyleftatall

'Let's blame women and children again shall we'

This is spot on.

It's always always women who are blamed for all societies ills. Constant drip since we're young of everything being women's fault.

Always 'mums in their 4x4s' to blame for traffic. Never men driving to work which they could do at home.

Always 'single mums scrounging on benefits'. Never vilifying the absent fathers who enjoyed a one night stand and disappeared.

Always 'my mil never helps out with childcare'. Never fil.

And on. And on. And on.

Please don't try to turn this into something it's not. The issue is with parents (men and women) who could walk but choose not to.

Yes there have been comments about mums in 4x4's and SAHM's but there have also been comments about dads.

Sansaplans · 14/03/2021 12:42

Depends where you live in relation to the school and what you need to do after drop off really, but if those who could feasibly walk the school run rather than drive it would make it much better for those who have no choice. There is one school here which is in a terrible location parking wise, there is none basically, and people park over the pavement, along the road (which is dangerous due to where it is), and there have sadly been a few accidents. The council even offered free parking in town (which is a 2 minute walk) to try and lessen the impact, yet people still cause mayhem and don't bother, and it makes it really hard for those who have to drive in. My neighbour is one of them, she admits she drives as she can't be arsed (so not assuming), but it's less than 10 minutes walk.

Pumpkinstace · 14/03/2021 12:53

My kids school is an 8 minute walk away, over a steep bridge.

I have rheumatoid arthritis and drive them over the bridge most days.

Its no quicker once you factor in strapping everyone in, the 3 point turn in the road, then the parking the other end etc.

I'm sure half the school judge me but they can fuck off.

beyondtheshoe · 14/03/2021 13:06

but if those who could feasibly walk the school run rather than drive it would make it much better for those who have no choice.

There were a couple of parents here who tried to start something about that. But as there's absolutely no way for the school to regulate this, and that "necessary can't be arsed " driving is a card called by every single driver, they didn't go very far.
They wouldn't even consider parking 2 roads away, which did not help their cause

Sansaplans · 14/03/2021 13:11

@beyondtheshoe

but if those who could feasibly walk the school run rather than drive it would make it much better for those who have no choice.

Oh absolutely, the school can't monitor it and could be distressing and intrusive to those who don't want to have to justify themselves. Unfortunately it would rely on self responsibility which we well know most people (men and women) aren't always arsed about wouldn't it haha.

AntiHop · 14/03/2021 13:17

The issue is that all car drivers need to be less reliant on their cars. We don't have a car. I see many of my neighbours jumping in their cars for short journeys. Some car owners just can't fathom inconveniencing themselves for a short journey.

themoneypolice · 14/03/2021 13:34

@AntiHop

Couldn't agree more.

Everyone would be so much happier and healthier if everyone started walking more or cycling more.

And I HATE the argument about the weather! Just dress for it - Copenhagen is a huge cycling city and it's bloody freezing there a lot of the year.

I live in Cardiff and they are currently closing lanes on the roads and turning them into cycle paths. Would be incredible if this happened all over the UK. The cycle lanes have made me feel comfortable cycling with DS.

woodhill · 14/03/2021 13:42

@beyondtheshoe

You can see the results of lazy parenting on school trips.

Every single year the school has complaints (every school year without a pandemic that is) because some precious children were EXHAUSTED/ nearly fainted/ nearly killed even, because they were expected to walk an inhumane/shocking/outrageous/offensive 3 or 4 hours that day. And by god it was hot/raining/ windy and it was horrendous.

The children were so tired they barely had diner and went to bed early. It's an absolute disgrace to inflict such an ordeal on young children.

Every single trip, and it's not just 1 complaint.

If it wasn't so tragic it would be comical.

We are not teaching any resilience. My dc went to secondary school on the train and walked a 15 min walk and the weather could be awful. The school bus was very expensive and I had to work in another location at the same time,

woodhill · 14/03/2021 13:42

I understand in rural locations but not in suburbs

woodhill · 14/03/2021 13:52

Also notice a real difference when the private schools have 2:week half term, roads so much better

nevernotstruggling · 14/03/2021 14:56

I drive my kids to school. We love about a mile away. I go to work straight after as I start at 9. Sometimes I work from home. Starting at 9. I can just make it driving.

I also rotate working in another building which is 6 miles away. I arrive late every day but my employer are very understanding.

When I worked part time I walked them 3 days a week. I have really tried.

I might use some flexi and try walking them when the weather improves but since I use a lot of flexi so I can pick them up most days a week and be as present as I can this is tricky.

Generally I try not to be a shit parent.

Zig4zag · 14/03/2021 15:17

@SpaceRaiders

What gets me are the amount of retired dog walkers who insist on joining the morning traffic to get to their favourite walking spot. They have the whole entire morning to do that!

For me its the driving 20-30mph below the speed limit that gets my goat. If you want to go for a leisurely drive then doing so at 8am in the morning, on a weekday is simply cunty.

Not all slower drivers are on a leisurely drive. I am a slower driver and will be driving to work Driving slower saves petrol, is a lot calmer and only costs a few minutes more on a 40min journey.

DdraigGoch · 14/03/2021 15:24

@ChameleonClara

Your question was incorrect, it should be AIBU to wish fewer people drove? to which the answer is, of course, yanbu.

But each must look to their own driving, not question other people's.

We got rid of our car a few years ago because I hated being a great big hypocrite on this issue.

This

I likewise sold my car and got a bicycle.

Lacucuracha · 14/03/2021 15:55

I don’t even drive to work, OP. Does this make me better than you?

MeltsAway · 14/03/2021 16:22

YANBU OP, but there are obviously plenty who think you are...

Norabird · 14/03/2021 17:24

If my secondary age children lived near enough to walk/cycle to school then they would. In normal times they get the bus unless there's an issue with time and the need to be somewhere else. just now they are getting dropped off and picked up because I don't want them using the bus. Also, the school has asked that they avoid public transport if at all possible. My youngest goes to the local primary so they walk.

Ginuwine · 15/03/2021 14:35

@Stellaris22

The idling engines is my biggest concerns. Are parents really so stupid and selfish to not realise the harm they are doing?

Couldn't agree more with this. Outside our local school are lines of small diesel engines cars (vast majority are diesel even though they may not do the mileage that justifies it) chug-chugging away fumes and particulates right into the lungs of the children they're meant to care about.

Flip

1 2 ··· 7 8 9 10 11 12