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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:
SoupDragon · 13/03/2021 19:54

nothing discriminatory to give priority to the most dedicated.

Or those able to pay a nanny to do it for them.

woodhill · 13/03/2021 19:54

@MrsHuntGeneNotJeremyObviously

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.
Bad they don't have lockers
FayleWatersWaters · 13/03/2021 19:55

If I don't drive my DC to school, then I won't make it to work on time. We live 2.5 miles from the school and they're too young to walk alone.

beyondtheshoe · 13/03/2021 19:56

It's an ever stronger argument for strict catchments. If you do have to travel 10 miles for the very nearest school, it is what it is.

No one is talking about kids having to walk on the side of a motorway or to cross Heathrow runway.

But when parents chose a school further, or only live temporarily then move, and then pretend they must drive ... that's where it's wrong.

And when you see the amount of cars waiting for the school day to finish in residential areas (so no motorway, no country lane..) you know which parents can't be arsed. Wasting 40 or 30 minutes of your day to secure a parking spot as near the school as possible? Come on...

Lara53 · 13/03/2021 19:56

I am driving my teens to school or my 18 year old drives us as we are trying to avoid public transport - I’m not working at the moment so able to do it. It’s 18 mile round trip by car. On the train it costs £720 ish per term for both of them. School coach would cost almost double and nearest bus stop is 15 min drive from home.

beyondtheshoe · 13/03/2021 19:57

@SoupDragon

nothing discriminatory to give priority to the most dedicated.

Or those able to pay a nanny to do it for them.

Most parents manage to walk 10-15 minutes without to pay for a nanny to do it for them...
ChameleonClara · 13/03/2021 19:57

@GoldenOmber

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.

Our whole family walks or cycles every day to work/school.

It is fine. You rarely get that wet tbh. We just don't worry about it.

The only thing I worry about is ice, but our routes are not too bad.

camelfinger · 13/03/2021 20:00

People just can’t be arsed a lot of the time. Every time there’s a suggestion of improving cycle/walking facilities round here there’s uproar because it would piss off the drivers. So we carry on with roads that are too dangerous for children to navigate on their own. Depressing.

nancypineapple · 13/03/2021 20:03

We live in London with 3 primary schools at either end of the street, they all have small catchment areas so realistically its quicker to walk. This week has been appalling-the roads have been gridlocked.Pollution at an all time high. I don't take issue with parents driving their kids to school , I do have a problem with lazy parents who drive up on the pavements right outside the school gates and think their right to drive overtakes everyone else's right to walk safely on pavements. Oh and those who park over your drive because they don't give a shit about other people.

garlictwist · 13/03/2021 20:04

I do think too many people drive short distances. I find driving incredibly boring and try not to drive within the city I live in if I can help it - I walk or cycle most places and often times it's quicker on the bike and a lot less frustrating than being sat in traffic/having to park etc.

However, I do not have young children and I appreciate that's not always an option.

beyondtheshoe · 13/03/2021 20:10

It's not just the driving ridiculously short distance,

it's also the hysteria about parking as near the school as humanly possible (or not). Neighbours drives, zebra crossing, dropped kerbs, grass verges, middle of the road... The level of horrendous driving and parking just to avoid walking 50 yards or from the next street is just embarrassing.

Every single school in the country is dealing with the same ridiculous problems.

If that doesn't show it's sheer laziness. Walking a further 45 seconds won't melt your child.

HalzTangz · 13/03/2021 20:13

@zizza

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...

Is your child's school part of the Modeshift stars scheme. This is a scheme to encourage parents to walk or cycle to school, and for those that have to drive, to consider parking a street away to incorporate some walking into the school day www.modeshiftstars.org
BrumBoo · 13/03/2021 20:13

We live about a mile from the school, and if it was just my eldest I'd probably get us walking a few days. However, his brother is impossible to walk more than is absolutely necessary. Despite being three hes much younger in terms of being able to listen, walk properly and walk at a reasonable time rate. It would probably take an hour, and a few meltdowns (mostly from me). Afternoons are worse, as I have to do the nursery to school run in ten minutes, and it would be a good 20 minute walk between the two just for me alone, never mind a 3 year old who's functioning at half his age in some ways.

I fully expect my eldest will be able to get himself to school at 11, unless taking him is part of my route anyway. I was put on a school bus at 5 and to be honest that thought is horrifying to me now. I cannot imagine putting my own 5 year old on a bus alone to go to school, even private school run one.

MrsHuntGeneNotJeremyObviously · 13/03/2021 20:14

A lot of people live in rural locations where even in catchment, you can be several miles away or have routes not safe for walking.

HalzTangz · 13/03/2021 20:18

@willibald

YABU. It's none of your business we don't all live in some utopia that suits your standards. My h takes our secondary aged children in on his way to work as one has autism and can't use a bus, which also in many regions particularly rural ones cost a fortune but they don't qualify for any help with transport if they're less than 3 miles away and the walk isn't safe.

It's 2021. The car has been around for a century now. It's not going anywhere. Get over it.

Buy a horse and buggy if it bothers you so much.

Just because a car has been around for ages doesn't mean it needs to be used all the time. Lots of people are just plain lazy and drive 200 yards to go get a pint of milk. There will also be people who have a genuine reason to drive, but there's also people who don't
Rowl · 13/03/2021 20:20

A chunk of those within walking distance are likely driven because the parents are too lazy to do the walk with them

blackheartsgirl · 13/03/2021 20:22

My dd2 12 was attacked by a man on public transport on her way home from school.

Is this OK and good enough reason to drive her to and from school?

HalzTangz · 13/03/2021 20:24

@Crystal90567

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

Maybe in private schools you can?

Even in secondary you can change your shoes, just pop to the loos, switch shoes, job done
Level32 · 13/03/2021 20:26

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

missbridgerton · 13/03/2021 20:28

People should be made to use their local schools.

You don't like the one nearest, move.

I work in Cheltenham and the traffic since last Monday has been absolutely insane. It's so so bad for the environment, and my blood pressure.

IndecentFeminist · 13/03/2021 20:31

I'd love to use my local school 😂

IndecentFeminist · 13/03/2021 20:32

And yes, there's no way I would drive a mile. Put the 3 yr old in a buggy.

MumofBoys2020 · 13/03/2021 20:41

How many people do you think are employed at schools? It’s not just parents on the school run that account for extra traffic, it’s all the extra staff on their way to work too.

MumofBoys2020 · 13/03/2021 20:42

How many people do you think are employed at schools? It’s not just parents of on the school run that account for extra traffic, it’s all the extra staff on their way to work too.

pleasestoprainingplease · 13/03/2021 21:05

Our walk is 35/40 mins. We do it on a Friday as that's the only day I don't work. Every other day I'm working and I wouldn't be able to work from 9 when my child goes into school at 8.45/50. Honestly wish we lived a stones throw a way or we had school buses! Hate the school run!