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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

About driving kids to school

246 replies

Rowanapp · 18/03/2021 21:32

So I walk the kids to school, and then cycle to work. Now secondary schools are back the traffic is awful again. I hate the fumes and worry about my kids developing lungs and brains being exposed to them. Why is the traffic so bad? Key workers presumably have always been driving to work. Everyone else still WFH. I always thought parents needed to drive due to needing to go on to work but that can’t be the case it must be parents driving children to school. I live 1.1 miles from school and up quite a big hill but mine have walked from starting at 4, or scooted (but I worry about scooter because of the traffic and now are good on bikes but I can’t cycle on the road with them because of the traffic)
Why can’t these children walk? I get some rural kids can’t but in a densely populated city why not just send your kids to a school within a few miles and let them walk. It’s good for their mental health and learning and physical inactivity is a far bigger killer than covid. Obviously some children have disabilities and specific challenges but honestly when did we become like this that most kids are thought incapable of walking a couple of miles a day.

OP posts:
DynamoKev · 19/03/2021 11:27

@Rowanapp
Around 1500 people and children die each year after being hit by cars.

Not sure where you got that from. Latest government figures say it's about 470.

Obviously one is too many but your figures don't seem very credible.

Gettingthereslowly2020 · 19/03/2021 11:30

@TooOldandTired

I drive my kids to school because it takes less time, I'm fat, lazy and tired and the weather is crap. I'm also rarely the person who take them to school. Yes it probably is selfish but go away and examine every part of you life and say you don't do anything selfish that impacts other people/the environment.
Oh give it a rest, we're all tired juggling work, kids, other commitments.

Or maybe I'm wrong and there sbould be an exemption for people who are "fat and lazy" so that those people can do whatever they like. You'd be less "fat and lazy" of you walked more and probably less tired as the exercise would probably give you more energy. The weather isn't really an excuse. It's shit walking in the rain and cold, so what? Move to a different country? Or just get on with it.

Life's hard but we all have a responsibility to do what we can.

LolaSmiles · 19/03/2021 11:32

2late2fixate
I saw a dad doing the school/nursery run by bike with a double bike trailer (guessing the children were EYFS age) and it's got me considering doing the same as it's quicker than walking.

You're right that the more parents who challenge it and promote better environmental choices the better. In an ideal world it should get to the point where it's a little embarrassing to be that person parked up 20 minutes before the end of day so your car nose touches the gates when it's known you live 3 streets away but cba.

Macncheeseballs · 19/03/2021 11:36

365 - the whole point of LTNs is to discourage things like the school run, it's meant to encourage kids/families to walk, or cycle - safer streets, cleaner air.

2late2fixate · 19/03/2021 11:37

@LolaSmiles

2late2fixate I saw a dad doing the school/nursery run by bike with a double bike trailer (guessing the children were EYFS age) and it's got me considering doing the same as it's quicker than walking.

You're right that the more parents who challenge it and promote better environmental choices the better. In an ideal world it should get to the point where it's a little embarrassing to be that person parked up 20 minutes before the end of day so your car nose touches the gates when it's known you live 3 streets away but cba.

Mumsnet posters love a good moan about the environment, except when it comes to mollycoddling their precious infants.

I despise what's happening to kids today. I was working with a child who didn't know what a conker was when I showed it to him last autumn. I asked him to have a guess as to where it came from (I brought him some horsechestnuts in the shell, some slightly opened and some out). He had no clue and couldn't even guess where they were from. Absolutely clueless. His head is full of Fortnite and his mother doesn't let him walk anywhere on his own. He's 11.

We used to go find conkers on our walk home from school and then bring them in to have conker competitions. I keep saying this but I'm only 34 ffs. I grew up in the city. I'm not an Enid Blyton character.

Kids today are fucked.

TooOldandTired · 19/03/2021 11:37

Gettingthereslowly2020
wtf do you mean give it a rest, I was simply be honest. I am getting on with it, minding my own business and not judging other people like you are. I don't need a exemption because I live in a free country which allows me to drive my car. Move to another country - why the fuck should I because people like you have decided a car journey I make once every couple of weeks for 10 mins is unneccesary and as result you are superior.
Go on then tell me what you do every day/week/year in your life and I'm sure I can find plenty to criticise you about. Get off your high horse.

Sleepyblueocean · 19/03/2021 11:38

A lot of parents don't want their child to go on public transport/school bus at moment and lots live several miles from the school and don't want to sit in or drag wet clothes around all day.

TooOldandTired · 19/03/2021 11:39

Kids today are fucked
They really aren't, maybe don't judge all kids on 1 child.

Macncheeseballs · 19/03/2021 11:40

Normanstrangerson, all modes of transport are not equal, cars curtail others freedoms massively, and kids, 'thick as mince' or not, should have the freedom to walk to school without fear of cars

DataColour · 19/03/2021 11:41

In my son's secondary school he says only a handful walk, the others are picked up by car....25 out of 30 kids in his class can't be having mobility issues. The catchment is at most 3 miles. It's easily accessible by bus and tram. The school has to send regular emails to parents to park further away due to congestion around the school.
When I was at school hardly anyone was picked up by car, and it was a school in a semi rural area with only one bus route. We all just walked home or took the bus or walked to another bus route.
Admittedly this was in the south, where the it rains less Smile I'm in the north now.

ragged · 19/03/2021 11:43

I decided in about 1977 that I would always live in walking distance of any primary school my DC attended. No idea why other people commit themselves to other choices.

Toomuchleopard · 19/03/2021 11:44

I walk my kids to school 2 days a week, the rest of the time I'm working from 8am. Its a lovely countryside 0.5 mile each way, about 60% off road and we have a dog so it makes sense to walk. Also the drive is awful due to a single track road to the school so walking takes the same amount of time. My husband never walks for no other reason than he is too lazy and complains about getting sweaty. I suspect that's the same for a lot of parents.

GoldenOmber · 19/03/2021 11:45

I do think it’s doing kids a bit of a disservice to teach them they can’t possibly walk in rainy weather when we live in a climate like this.

It’s a bit of rain, you don’t need a survival suit. They’ll be fine. Mine are.

rachelvbwho · 19/03/2021 11:47

Home- School = 1hr 45min walk
School - Nursery = 2hr 5min walk
Nursery - Home = 1hr 40min walk

Unfortunately it is not feasible for me to spend that time in a morning and evening when I am also trying to work a full time 9-5 therefore I drive and don't feel bad for doing so!

EvilPea · 19/03/2021 11:47

Because its a 2 hour 55 minute walk across dual carriageways with no pavements and through fields , each way.

There is a bus but its over £100 a month.
The catchment is huge, id much rather there was a local school, but there isn't.

We aren't even rural

Parker231 · 19/03/2021 11:49

You drive DC’s to school on your way to work. Not everyone is at home all day with the luxury of the time to walk to and from school.

TooOldandTired · 19/03/2021 11:49

@ragged

I decided in about 1977 that I would always live in walking distance of any primary school my DC attended. No idea why other people commit themselves to other choices.
Seriously you have no idea why all people can't live within walking distance of their kids primary school. I could give you multiple reasons - they can't afford to - they are limited by what is available for rent - they are limited by what they are offered by the council - they have other considerations apart from school - their kids have to move to another school (for any multitude of reasons)
2late2fixate · 19/03/2021 11:49

@DataColour

In my son's secondary school he says only a handful walk, the others are picked up by car....25 out of 30 kids in his class can't be having mobility issues. The catchment is at most 3 miles. It's easily accessible by bus and tram. The school has to send regular emails to parents to park further away due to congestion around the school. When I was at school hardly anyone was picked up by car, and it was a school in a semi rural area with only one bus route. We all just walked home or took the bus or walked to another bus route. Admittedly this was in the south, where the it rains less Smile I'm in the north now.

I feel embarrassed for secondary school kids who are getting dropped off and picked up by their parents.

NormanStangerson · 19/03/2021 11:52

@Macncheeseballs

Normanstrangerson, all modes of transport are not equal, cars curtail others freedoms massively, and kids, 'thick as mince' or not, should have the freedom to walk to school without fear of cars
Sure. That would be nice. But my kid would have to walk down fast country lanes with no pavement, and then an A road, and then some more country lanes. And he’d definitely get flattened.
IHateCoronavirus · 19/03/2021 11:52

3.4 miles to older DC’s school then a further 2.7 miles to the primary from there. We leave the house at 8. I get back to the house dead on nine ready to start work.
Not all of us live within walking distance, although the older DC do walk to meet me at the primary at pick up time.
I’m not even rural.

Twinkie01 · 19/03/2021 11:53

Sometimes we walk, sometimes I drive, sometimes DD has got her arse in gear and we have time to walk, sometimes she hasn't and it's a rush. I pay road tax, I have every right to use my car for which ever journeys I choose.

Sleepyblueocean · 19/03/2021 11:54

The nearest secondary school to where I live is 45 min walk away along an A road with no pavements or street lights.

Committing to living within walking distance of your DC primary school doesn't work if they end up ( not through choice) at different schools.

8bitgame · 19/03/2021 11:55

I’m working from home but I can’t drop my child at school till 840 and I need to be back home and logged in by 9:00. I live a 10 minute drive or a 30 minute walk from the school.

So you do the maths OP and you’ll know I drive to school.

ghostyslovesheets · 19/03/2021 11:56

I can see DD3's school from my house - she walks

her sisters are at 2 different 6th forms - both almost an hours walk away in different directions - they normally get the bus but occasionally it doesn't turn up or - like today - DD1 needed a lift as she's hurt her foot - I am working from home but that doesn't mean I wont drive them if needed

DataColour · 19/03/2021 11:59

I feel embarrassed for secondary school kids who are getting dropped off and picked up by their parents.

I know. My DS would hate it if I turned up at his school. DD who will be going into secondary in September has already told me she is going by herself from day 1 and can't wait!