Should schools be telling parents to walk kids to school?

[bellamountain]

This isn't an argument for the environment or to keep kids fit but to stop the roads around schools becoming so dangerously congested and for parents who do need to drive their kids, to be able to do so and not have to battle for parking. I take the kids to school and then have to shoot off to work, any one doing the same and the car is essential. However, the majority of the mums at my school do not work, they could easily walk their kids the relatively short distance but choose not too. They all have huge cars and all aim to get as close to the school as possible, it makes crossing the road dangerous, even with a one way system in place enforced by the school. Parents also sitting in their cars with the engines idling with the heater or air con. I'll be the first to admit that I love my car and I couldn't live without it, but when I'm not at work I walk to school and back. It's far less stressful yet the same parents clog the roads every day. I swear it's a pissing contest sometimes to flaunt who has the nicest car and this is a state school!

I am enjoying your insistence that you're busy and important and therefore entitled to use your car but everyone else should walk

I’m sorry, OP but I have to agree with this. You know nothing, or very little, of other people’s lives and really can’t complain when you’re not prepared yourself to make the changes you require.

When I read the OP I thought you were going to say that the roads around the school could be kept clear for people who needed to drive, such as those with disabilities. That would be a fair point

Yes problemmo same at out school. I think the walk is even shorter, 1or2 mins. And yes people arrive 30 mins early at pick up to secure the parking spaces right next to school

Secondary school is worse: pull up in the middle of the road blocks cling traffic to let kids out then do a three point turn in the entrance of a road just round a blind bend.

I do agree if you can walk you should but I have to drive as my two didn't get in the same school and are miles apart so I've no choice.

Blocking FFS.

Ds secondary school has two schools on the same site finishing and starting 20 minutes apart. It’s a nightmare. I don’t know why anyone would choose to do that if they didn’t have to I dread it!

The solution is something that for very good reasons will never happen.

Parents are prepared to go to long lengths to get their children into a school of their choice. Example being those who will 'rediscover' their Christian faith and attend church every Sunday for years, only to stop going once their child/children are in secondary school (or earlier).

If walking your child to/from school got you head of the queue for a secondary school place, I am sure that the number of children walking to/from school would increase greatly.

The more practical one that could reduce some of the issues would be for SUVs aka Chelsea Tractors to have a separate category of car licence. So if you want one, you must re-take your driving test again, preferably at regular intervals. Or have a smaller car, which many would do.

The other would be a congestion charge on the streets concerned at limited times.

Definitely everyone should be told to walk to school except you OP because you are Busy and Important.

It's the same all over the country. It's not even the using the cars that's the issue it's all the dangerous parking so that they don't have to walk more than 2 meters....or even get out of the car. Parking over the crossings, reversing back onto kids, making it impossoble for traffic to pass, doing 3 point turns in the road where kids are trying to cross. It bemuses me as there are loads of side roads with plenty of parking or even just 200m down the road it is wider and loads of parking. The parking on the bzig zags too, so entitled.

Our school used to do a walking bus thing, school staff went to key points (each estate or whatever) and kids/some parents walked there to meet them, then they all walked to school together. It was very popular but obviously on the days the school staff didn't do it - no one bothered (parents should really have taken it over). It was a lovely idea and the kids loved it but school staff shouldn't have to do it, parents should (even on a rota). So it fizzled out.

LEA could make ALL school areas permit parking only. Then you could apply for a permit if you had a genuine reason (only suitable school is further than x miles) child or primary carer with restricted mobility.

Jobs etc aren't an excuse, its not as though you're the only parent who works.

'I drive my kids to school because I have somewhere VERY important to be. I don't really think anyone else should though, as in my opinion, they have got nothing better to do. AIBU?'

I wish ours would! There's so many feckless wonders of a morning, parking right opposite the gate so anyone who is walking can't bloody cross over!
I don't know why they can't park a few streets away and walk, it's so lazy and dangerous!

I really don’t think you know everything they might be doing straight after dropping the kids:

Big supermarket shop
Swim or exercise class starting soon after drop off
Dropping another child somewhere
Visiting friends or relatives
Doctors or hospital appointment
Someone else with a job

I agree with not driving short distances if you don’t have to but you can’t possibly know what everyone else is doing after drop off and the same rule should apply to all.

I don't care what people are doing after drop off.... I care about the stupid and dangerous parking that makes it harder for those that are walking to school!

Many new build schools have a drop off area. Parents just park there.

I live at the end of a cul de sac very close to a school - three houses away. I can see the fence into the school playground about 50 feet from my house. Parking is a HUGE issue and has been getting steadily worse as the school roll has risen. My eldest started there about 15 years ago and the roll was 250 ish, it's now 450 ish.

The school regularly sends out letters about parking and thinking about residents, or having scooter to school weeks, or walk to school weeks or whatever. And the parking improves for a few days before returning to the cheeky fuckers parking over your drive or abandoning their cars on the zig zags.

Because they ALL are just as important as the OP with things to do, places to be. Everyone has an excuse about why they can't possibly walk. They have to work, they have a baby, they have a toddler to get to nursery, it's raining, it's too sunny, it's windy, they are going to the supermarket after.....

Yes, this mentality of escorting kids to and from school until they go to high school baffles me.

No, I don't think it's for schools to interfere. I do a mix of car/walking depending on whether it's a WFH day and wouldn't be happy if school made it awkward for me to drive on office days. Others will have their own reasons.

I do agree that some people are strange about wanting to get as close as possible, even if it creates a blocked driveway, blind corner etc. I'd rather just park a bit further away. It's very weirdly satisfying to get a "proper" prime spot though!

Do you park up a ten minute walk from the school then walk the remainder of the way?

@Heckythump1 I totally agree with you, some people drive and park with zero consideration. However the OP is implying that it’s ok for them to drive and cause congestion as they have to travel to work and so are unique. I’m just suggesting that they can’t possibly know the reasons other people also drive to school.

Our situation is similar to another poster's in that there is a large carpark near a couple of shops 3 minutes' walk away. But the parents are determined to get as close to the school as humanly possible, so park in the turning space at the end of our street, double park, park in residents' spaces or across your drive.

Schools can ask and plead all they like. But IT WILL NOT CHANGE. Because these parents are selfish about the way they use their cars and just don't give two hoots about anyone else. It's ALL about their convenience and nothing else is worth consideration.

OP

If the kids are all / mostly in walking distance why not organise a walking bus? Or at least suggest it to the school.

OP clearly stated she needs it to head to work straight after the school run.