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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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:
QuestionEverythingOrBeASheep · 13/03/2021 19:24

The more children mix the more risk there is. It's totally understandable that parents want to protect their children, even if children are not that affected by the virus. At the end of the day, these are extraordinary times we are living in. Anxiety is through the roof and going on public transport is not going to help that. Not to mention the many valid reason for children being driven. Many live far from school without good transport links. The cost of a bus pass is just stupid, I couldn't afford it. And it is simply more convenient and reliable to drive often. I'm lucky mine want to walk. It takes nearly an hour each way but unless the weather is awful this is the preferred choice. It really isn't for us to criticise other peoples decisions.

lioncitygirl · 13/03/2021 19:27

its not that simple. Walking for us will be 45 minutes at least, minimum. Doable? Yes. we did it just on thursday as had some sun out, took us 1 hour to walk home... Do i want to with a 6 and 4 year old in the morning? No.

DenisetheMenace · 13/03/2021 19:30

Il be driving our asthmatic 18 year old into college until they get their jabs, when they’ll return to the bus.
Sorry.

Minikievs · 13/03/2021 19:31

@Sammiesnake

As a mum who works full time and has no choice but to drive our kid to school , I’m sick of being criticised for making a good choice for our family. It’s usually by other women who are/ were either SAHM, part -time workers with more time in the morning or from parents who live significantly closer to the school anyway. I have to be able to get my children to school safely and on time, then also make it to work on time. No I can’t just get up a bit earlier Hmm because the issue isn’t having time to walk them to school - the issue is having the time to turn around and walk back home after before driving to work. I wouldn’t be able to keep my job! Also the reverse is true too because I collect them after school but I finish work at 3pm and collect them at 3.30pm. If I had to drop my car off at home and walk to school to collect them, I wouldn’t arrive until 4.15pm.
Absolutely this ☝🏼

I'm sick of being judged too. I'm a single working parent. My children go to school out of catchment as after I left ExH we moved out of the family home and into a tiny one miles away from school. I have no choice.

Get stuffed with your judgy shit. Why aren't YOU walking to work?

lachy · 13/03/2021 19:31

My DD goes to a primary school 10 miles away from our home. She is in Reception and the schools I wanted which were far more local and which provided the wrap around care we need were oversubscribed.

So yes, we contribute to morning traffic, but there's no way we can walk.

sunnydaleslayer · 13/03/2021 19:32

I walk every day (primary aged). I cannot understand why parents WANT to drive. Granted I live 10 minutes walk away so not far but I know some parents are closer or equal distance and drive. It's such a bloody pain to park I'd only get half way and need to walk the rest anyway. Plus the effort of piling two school DC and toddler in the car and out again. So much easier to walk.

Crystal90567 · 13/03/2021 19:34

Two bags? Or shoes in with all their books?

For 30 mins in the rain from age 11. You wouldn't ask this of an adult. No drying facilities in secondary schools. They'd still be damp in a plastic bag at the end of the day.

Unfortunately yes GoldenOmber, it really upsets me. No boots is on every uniform list I've ever seen. My kids secondary is oversubscribed so goes one step further - None of what it calls trainer style shoes, that is what they call it, but they reinforce it strictly so it covers clarks shoes and any velcro shoes too. They mean only office style thin leather shoes for boys. Most girls wear ballet pump style leather shoes. Supposedly its smart!

oohmyback · 13/03/2021 19:35

My secondary age kids aren't getting the bus. I won't let them on it, I'm a teacher and trying hard to keep our risk low (other than all being in school!) so I don't miss work. They walk home, it takes 45 mins (they need the exercise after lockdown tbh) but it's possible for one of us to take them in mornings so we do.

oohmyback · 13/03/2021 19:36

Having said that when I drive my youngest to school on my day off I don't go near the school, we walk about 15 mins, parking near our old house to walk the rest.

woodhill · 13/03/2021 19:39

@Crystal90567

My comment was mainly about secondary where you can't change your shoes.

Maybe in private schools you can?

Do they not have lockers?
GoldenOmber · 13/03/2021 19:39

For 30 mins in the rain from age 11. You wouldn't ask this of an adult.

You don’t think adults walk 30 minutes in the rain? Confused

I am an adult who works in an office and wears officey-type shoes. I wear practical, comfortable waterproof shoes when walking to/from to the train station, and change into work shoes while I’m there. It’s fine. It’s really not THAT horrendous to have to put shoes in a bag.

When I was at school we kept coats, other shoes etc. in lockers during the day but I am old now, perhaps lockers are not a thing any more.

MrsHuntGeneNotJeremyObviously · 13/03/2021 19:43

My daughter has no locker in school. I'm not sending her with PE kit, school books, lunch box and spare shoes to lug about all day! If it's cold or wet or she has a ton of stuff, them she's getting driven to school.
She's actually a pretty active kid, so I don't worry about her going in to school and sitting down all day since that's not what happens.

beyondtheshoe · 13/03/2021 19:43

Get stuffed with your judgy shit. Why aren't YOU walking to work?

well 35 miles would be pushing it, that's a 70 miles round trip added to a 10-11 working day and kids and life ... I do walk to the station though Grin

Of course I judge.

Most so-called "busy" parents manage to arrive 30 minutes (at least) before the school finishes to secure a parking spot. It wouldn't take them that long to walk...

It's not about busy, it's about priority and being organised. It's obvious who is lazy and can't be arsed. Shame for the kids who start life very unfit, and who got dragged from the tv, to the car, to the class and have no chance of being kids.

beyondtheshoe · 13/03/2021 19:45

Two bags? Or shoes in with all their books?

For 30 mins in the rain from age 11. You wouldn't ask this of an adult.

If you think that a couple of bags are too much to carry for an adult, I can see what the problem is. Reminds me of these people who are unable to go to the supermarket if they haven't got a car because they could not possibly carry more than a bag of crisps.

Life must be so complicated when you could do everything. The kids have no chance if they are told they are too weak to carry a school bag

AwFeebs · 13/03/2021 19:45

I'd love to be able to just walk to school but we live rurally and about 5 miles away.

I am tired of having to get in the car for every single journey but I also love living out in the countryside. 🙈

Crystal90567 · 13/03/2021 19:46

Hardly any secondary schools in uk have lockers. Bags are usually travelled around with kids lesson to lesson and shoved under their chair / desk in lesson.
GoldenOmber do you have somewhere to put and dry your outdoor shoes at work. Or do you move lesson every hour, often walking quite far and x5, and carry them to lunch and break?

Vickles20 · 13/03/2021 19:47

We have people who live local to our primary school. Then they move to get their oldest child into the popular senior school 1.5 miles away. Then they drive back and forth. Marvellous.

GoldenOmber · 13/03/2021 19:48

GoldenOmber do you have somewhere to put and dry your outdoor shoes at work

They stay in my bag. They don’t need drying, they’re shoes, they just go in a carrier bag in my work bag until the end of the day.

SoupDragon · 13/03/2021 19:49

@beyondtheshoe

The nasty cure to this would be those who walk their children to school are first in the queue for secondary school places. Given the lengths people go to so as to get their chosen school place, walking each day would be minor in comparison.

you are a genius!

No, just discriminatory.
Toiletrollbuyer · 13/03/2021 19:50

I genuinely wish my daughter could either walk or ride to school.
We live in a village 2 miles away but no pedestrian route, and 60mph single lane country roads which saw 9 fatal accidents last year.
Arriva buses have just stopped the local service as it wasn’t profitable, so I have to drive her in.
We are campaigning to the council for either a bus service or a safe route into school from the village. I absolutely hate being one of the people contributing to the traffic jam.

beyondtheshoe · 13/03/2021 19:50

SoupDragon
nothing discriminatory to give priority to the most dedicated.

That's how people get jobs too! Showing their interest.

Toiletrollbuyer · 13/03/2021 19:51

And if just like to add, this is the catchment school. It has no pedestrian route and no bus service

theMoJareajoke · 13/03/2021 19:51

I drive mine to and from school because carrying her heavy rucksack was causing dd significant issues. She has a rare bone disorder.
I'd rather not as it's only a 10min walk and they like walking but she was unable to use her arm by lunchtime otherwise.

tanguero · 13/03/2021 19:51

GoldenOmber Sat 13-Mar-21 19:39:58
For 30 mins in the rain from age 11. You wouldn't ask this of an adult.

1950s/60s......aged 7, I walked a mile and a half to school, across Manchester, alone (and home again). I can't remember any of my classmates ever being walked to school, or met by anyone when the school day ended. We walked to and from school by ourselves.

Not saying, this is how it should be - just how it was.

SoupDragon · 13/03/2021 19:53

@beyondtheshoe

SoupDragon nothing discriminatory to give priority to the most dedicated.

That's how people get jobs too! Showing their interest.

children who can't walk to school Children who live too far to walk. Parents who can't walk to school Parents who have to get to work Children with siblings who can not walk to school Children without a safe walking route to school.

No, nothing at all discriminatory 🙄

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