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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

How far is the school run and do you drive or walk?

270 replies

yippyyippy · 27/09/2021 14:30

Just curious after looking at another conversation about walking to school in the rain!

My DC primary is just over a mile and we walk but don’t have much choice over the matter as I don’t drive. If it’s very bad rain then I’ll try and arrange a lift or taxi.

Most parents walk or drive as it’s a small town with limited public transport. I’ve never seen anyone cycle in with their children thinking about it.

What does everyone else do?

OP posts:
TravellingJack · 27/09/2021 15:01

About a mile, used to walk it unless it was absolutely tipping down (and then usually offered neighbour's children a lift or DS got a lift with them) but am 36wks pregnant with bad PGP so even walking as far as the car is too painful some days! I'm often on crutches Sad

I hate driving as parking is difficult and I feel bad for driving such a short distance. DS and I are both missing out on a bit of exercise, fresh air and time to chat, and it's no quicker than when I could walk as I often end up using my crutches to get from the car to the playground. Not exactly looking forward to doing the school run with a baby in tow in the winter (especially as it's uphill!) but we will get back to walking as soon as I'm physically able to!

Babyiwantabump · 27/09/2021 15:01

Oh and we drop them at his house on the way to work

outdooryone · 27/09/2021 15:02

About a mile - always walked or cycled.
Kids did it by themselves from age 8/9 or so.

FooFighter99 · 27/09/2021 15:02

0.4 miles each way and we walk as often as we can, unless I have to get to work for an early meeting, in which case we drive. But I have an electric car, so zero emissions Grin

Whatnow321 · 27/09/2021 15:05

2.5 miles with majority of it along 60mph rural road with no footpath so for obvious reasons we drive

Homemadearmy · 27/09/2021 15:06

Primary is 0.6 miles away. Before I went back to work we walked both ways. Once I went back to work I drove them to school then took the car home and walked to work. Now they are all in secondary 1.6 miles away they walk

Lovelydovey · 27/09/2021 15:07

About a mile - we always walk. We used to get the tram if they had breakfast club as it meant leaving very early and public transport was quieter then, and it meant less stress when travelling on to work - but covid has put paid to that as we are still working from home and not comfortable on public transport.

Iseeyoulookingatme · 27/09/2021 15:08

I live about a mile away from ds school. I don't drive so I walk there and back, ds either rides his bike or scooter depending on his mood. He loves our school journeys in the morning, not so much on the way home lol. It only takes 15 minutes each way. When he stays with his dad he gets driven in the car but his dad lives a 20 minute car journey away.

edwinbear · 27/09/2021 15:09

0.8 miles, DC walk, it takes about 15 mins. Even if it's chucking it down, they walk, it takes twice as long to drive with the traffic and parking issues.

myadhdusername · 27/09/2021 15:10

3.5 miles and funnily enough we drive Grin

GrumpySausage · 27/09/2021 15:12

0.4 of a mile. we walk, if it rains we just get wet. its actually further to drive it than to walk what with the jittys.

My next door neighbour however (same school) drives. I always think it must take her longer to load and unload the 3 kids than it does to drive it!

BeautyQueenIamNot · 27/09/2021 15:13

Rural school around 8 miles each way, 60 mph roads with dick head drivers most of the time, we have debated on riding our bikes but I just can’t see the kids doing it often and not 16 miles a day!!

There is another school which is 7 mile away in the other direction but it’s not a good one

AdviceOnLife · 27/09/2021 15:15

My 2 are both due in at 8.50 at 2 different schools in different directions.

When it's 1 parent drive-
Oldest has ASD drive to her school 0.9 miles, then 1.1 miles to youngest school.

When it's both parents each take a child and one of us has the baby in the pram and walk.

Allthingspeaches · 27/09/2021 15:20

Nursery is 150m away on the same road so we walk.

The primary I'm hoping for is a 10 minute walk away so would walk that too.

MrsLeclerc · 27/09/2021 15:25

Half a mile to nursery school so we walk.
There’s a very steep hill about half way there and DS(3) always wants to be carried by that point. So as I regularly arrive sweaty and out of breath at least the rain camouflages it a bit Grin.

BigPyjamas · 27/09/2021 15:30

15 miles. We drive. No public transport option.

Really hoping the fuel crisis eases soon.

BiLuminous · 27/09/2021 15:31

It's a mile away. Myself and one of my DCs have mobility problems so we drive.

MintyGreenDream · 27/09/2021 15:31

Around a mile walk but i drive ds as I go to the gym in the next village straight after drop off so I'm in the car anyway.

ojojojoja · 27/09/2021 15:32

1.1m - walk!!

SheABitSpicyToday · 27/09/2021 15:33

It’s about 100 yards. But down a very steep hill. Usually walk but I didn’t drive down the other day as I’m very heavily pregnant with really bad spd!

Spindrifting · 27/09/2021 15:35

Just over a mile. We walk.

lockdownalli · 27/09/2021 15:36

Just over a mile - everyone walks really.

QueenKit · 27/09/2021 15:37

0.7 miles and we walk, sanctimoniously tutting at the drivers and inconsiderate parkers as I go Grin

superking · 27/09/2021 15:38

0.7 miles. We walk but will drive if it's raining, and I also usually pick them up in the car on the two days they do after school club as my youngest is 5 and is shattered and starving by then!

FAQs · 27/09/2021 15:40

@FuriousCheekyFucker your calculations are about right, my daughter’s primary was 13 miles each way, times four, plus extras worked out to just under £200 per school month.

Secondary is now 24 miles each way, school bus is £117 per month, works out much cheaper for me than driving.