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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:
TwoleftUggs · 27/09/2021 19:28

I’m obviously soft as school is a mile away and I drive them every morning. I wouldn’t want to walk it myself so not going to make them do it either. They do walk home though.

Lullsby · 27/09/2021 19:28

Almost 2 miles and we cycle. Two kids at two separate schools. I walk with the baby in the buggy. I drive but we don’t drive to school as I love this time with them.
We also cycle back and walk so it’s a total of 5 miles or sometimes 7 miles per day if we stop by the park on our way back. We cross two big parks during our adventure to school.

Ohanami · 27/09/2021 19:29

Just under 3km but there's no footpath and the road is fast and narrow so I'm not happy walking or cycling with my 5 year old. Apparently a nearby path is being upgraded to a cycle route soon - maybe we'll be cycling to school by the time she finishes primary.

MrsColon · 27/09/2021 19:29

3 miles - both DH and I work, so we have to go by car. I think very few working parents can walk their DC to school unless it's really near and they don't have 9am starts.

LaPampa · 27/09/2021 19:30

Five miles along rural main road - we drive. (Primary).

PalacesOfMontezuma · 27/09/2021 19:37

2.5 miles. DH drives them in the mornings. I bring them home on the bus.

marieantoinehairnet · 27/09/2021 19:39

4 miles, and drive, it's on my way to the train station, drop one child at one school, then the other child at another, then park at station and get train - it's a bloody nightmare and I wish I was still wfh

Thisismysexboardname · 27/09/2021 19:40

27m each way. I drive!!!

Ashhead24 · 27/09/2021 19:47

1.6 miles and we drive. I have to go straight to work after dropping them so need to drive, but even if I didn't I'd still have to drive or we'd never get there with a 3 year old and an ASD 6 year old, it takes 10 mins to walk to school from where I park, which only takes me 3 to walk back. Hoping that one day we could ride it, but that is not something that's doable at the moment.

morechocolateneededtoday · 27/09/2021 19:53

0.6 miles, always walk. If I were to take the car, would get stuck in traffic getting back home to the point it would take longer than having walked. Umbrellas and wellies in the rain - roads also so much busier in rain that we would end up parking further away which defeats the point of the car

Bobsyer · 27/09/2021 19:55

About half a mile. Husband walks Y5 child in.

Y8 children about 3/4 mile. They walk alone.

JoborPlay · 27/09/2021 19:56

4.2miles. by car as it's too far to walk (longer due to not walking on the motorway) and it's also on my way to work and my work requires a car.

Stellaris22 · 27/09/2021 19:56

Just under a mile to primary, always walk. I don't agree with people near me who drive their kids to school the same distance every day. Children should be walking and not being encouraged to jump in a car for short trips.

We never make long term commitments for extra curricular activities that we can't walk to, we deliberately chose a school we can walk to. Ours is 8 and is used to walking everywhere even though we own a car.

ballroompink · 27/09/2021 19:58

1.5 miles and we walk. It's along a busy main road through suburbs but the paths are fine. If it is pouring, DH will drive DS to school on his way to work or in the past we have got the bus.

mrsdavegrohl · 27/09/2021 20:01

2 minute walk for Primary, can hear the bell from my garden.
Secondary is just over a mile, walk there too but if its proper tipping it down I give a lift to DS and his pals . I will sometimes pick him up if hes had a long day and can't be bothered walking home but he usually enjoys the walk

PhillMcCann · 27/09/2021 20:01

Older dc have a school bus to Comp and walk to the stop alone...0.4 miles.

Dc3's school is 0.6 miles but we drive more than walk because I start work (from home) ten minutes after drop off time which isn't enough time to get home.

Kljnmw3459 · 27/09/2021 20:02

5 minute walk door to door.

NameChange30 · 27/09/2021 20:04

It's 1 mile and we cycle. We got a cargo bike so we could do it easily. I absolutely refuse to drive such a short distance!

LorenzoVonMatterhorn · 27/09/2021 20:04

12 miles so we drive.

N0PE · 27/09/2021 20:07

4.2 miles. They get the school bus.

Couldn’t walk it as it's not a safe route. To go a safe walking route google tells me would take 1 hour and 50 minutes!

FlatteredFool · 27/09/2021 20:07

1.2 miles of hills. We walk in all weathers detouring along the canal and through the woods which makes it nearer 2 miles.

ADreadedSunnyDay · 27/09/2021 20:11

0.7mile - son cycles. We used to walk with him but he is old enough to travel by himself now

SlidDownTheElephantsTrunk · 27/09/2021 20:11

5.2 miles. Drove !

2lsinllama · 27/09/2021 20:12

Primary was 15 minutes away and we walked as I don’t drive. Secondary is 25 minutes away and he walks.

Oldtiredfedup · 27/09/2021 20:15

25 miles. Drive