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

[yippyyippy]

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?

I don't have children yet but all the schools in our town are less than half a mile from our house, so they'll be walking unless I'm going straight to work after the school run, in which case it makes more sense for me to drop them off on the way rather than walking there/bak just to get the car and drive back past the school again.

3 miles along a single track winding country lane so I drive but it’s en route to work so not much choice in the matter

9 miles to school so we drive. Bit far for anything else and no buses/public transport.

300 metres we walked
Just under a mile we mixed up walking, push bike and car if I was going somewhere after.
25 minute drive - we always drive

Soon to be is 6 miles and we will drive as only route is a main road so biking isn't an option with kids

Holy shit. Do you guys realise there is a climate crisis?? Some of these distances and you drive. Your children will have to live with the consequences of this in the future.

Under a mile. Used to walk but mostly drive since I tore the cartilage in my hip and walking hurts so much. Waiting for an op.

1.3 miles. We drive.

@mera85 who is this specifically aimed at? I have to get straight to work from drop off so literally have no choice

Should add one of my DC I'd a blue badge holder hence driving the 1.3 miles

@Mera85

Holy shit. Do you guys realise there is a climate crisis?? Some of these distances and you drive. Your children will have to live with the consequences of this in the future.

I think we're all quite aware.

But for many people, walking the school run when you have work to get to afterwards isn't possible.

For example, if my DC got into the local primary, I would have to walk there and back (around a mile in total), get in my car, and drive back past the same primary school in order to get to work.

It makes more sense to drive to work and drop them off on the way. And no, I can't walk to work before someone jumps on me for that. I need my car to get between clients who live upto 15 miles apart.

@icedcoffees there will be a large majority of parents who drop off as they need to get to work and I’m the same as you, working in rural community nursing means I need a car, I can do 40-50 miles just at work some days

My kids catch a bus which is a few hundred M to bus stop

But we have a dog and my husband is always away so at 7.30am we have to take him for a 2 mile walk every day no matter the weather.

It was pouring today and we were all soaked but the dog needs a walk as I head off to work once they catch the bus,

So I'd have no issues walking 2 miles to school if needed.

Just over half a mile, we always walk, no matter the weather.

It was a 10 minute walk and we always walked. No other choice, but probably would have even if we did have a choice. Youngest started comp in September and that is a 2 minute walk.

160 metres from our front door

11yo walks there on his own, but wee ones need walked there as in nursery and P1 still. It's fantastic. One of the reasons why we bought the house, such close proximity to the local school and nursery.

[quote AlaskaThunderfuckHiiiiiiiii]@icedcoffees there will be a large majority of parents who drop off as they need to get to work and I’m the same as you, working in rural community nursing means I need a car, I can do 40-50 miles just at work some days[/quote]
Yep, I'm the same and it applies to many jobs I think.

But lots of people on here don't really understand the reality of rural living, I don't think. We have no bus service and a train service that only goes in one direction. A car is pretty much a necessity, and those who don't drive really struggle and unfortunately end up very isolated, especially as they get older.

When mine were at primary I bought an adult scooter and we scooted to school if I didn’t have to go on to work (then I drove) - about a mile. Their secondary is about the same distance and they walk now.

Primary was 4.5 miles , rural , no busses so drove.
Moved , senior school , 4.5 miles again , rural , free busses.

@MrsColon Not everywhere has this but where we are there is a breakfast club that opens at 8am. That way we can walk and still get to work in time for a 9am start. Neither of us would manage to get to work for a 9am start without it (even with a car). It amazes me that others manage it.

1 mile here. We usually drive as we have work at 9 and need to be quick. We walk when off work and the weather is good. There are many parents who live down the round and drive

3 miles. The 1st mile of it is no pavement and 60mph road. We live just inside the cutoff for the school bus, so we drive.

Primary school is 1.7 miles from our house. I don't drive so we walk, in all weathers. Today it was windy and torrential rain. We wore waterproof trousers and jackets with wellies and had umbrellas. We can walk there in 40 minutes.

I wouldn't cycle as it's downhill all the way there and very steep going back. I'd have to walk the bike back!

School is 4 miles away. No public transport to school or my workplace, so I drive.

0.6 mile. We used to walk/cycle but cannot now due to safeguarding issues, we have to do drop off and pick up inside school gates.

I'd love to go back to walking, it was a great way for us to chat and for them to decompress after school.

150 yards away. We walk obvs