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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Should my year 7 DS travel to school on the London Underground?

74 replies

Juliet57 · 23/05/2022 22:33

The London Underground is the most polluted part of the city. The level of air pollution underground is very high. It is proven that air pollution is particularly detrimental to children. And so I wonder whether DC should travel on the tube. Anybody have a DC travelling to school on the tube?

OP posts:
Johnnysgirl · 23/05/2022 22:34

Yes, millions of us. Well, many thousands, anyway.

easyday · 23/05/2022 22:36

Yes, but we only moved here last summer so she's only been going since September and is in sixth form. But she says there are loads of secondary kids on the tube too.
If kids live in London how else are they going to travel to school if it's not walking distance?

PixellatedPixie · 23/05/2022 22:40

Do you have other options for him to get to school? My first thought (might be silly) is that if you’re that concerned about relative levels of pollution you should send him to a boarding school in Surrey! London has much lower pollution levels than in other big cities around the world.

Womencanlift · 23/05/2022 22:41

The tube is full of school kids of all ages every morning. How else are they going to get to school? Bus I suppose but sitting in traffic (which is very likely before 9am in the morning) with windows open (they are still doing that on the buses with windows) is still going to give exposure to pollution

Skinnermarink · 23/05/2022 22:42

No, most inner-city children teleport to get to school, it’s the safest option.

StuckonanLNERtrain · 23/05/2022 22:56

Buy a hazmat suit with full ventilation kit for them

InChocolateWeTrust · 23/05/2022 22:58

If you are that bothered about pollution its not the obvious choice to live in an urban environment.

NoSquirrels · 23/05/2022 22:58

What’s the alternative transport option, OP?

AnotherDelphinium · 23/05/2022 23:02

Alone?! Definitely not.

With an adult? Yes, there’s thousands of primary children on the tube every day!

DisgruntledPelican · 23/05/2022 23:05

AnotherDelphinium · 23/05/2022 23:02

Alone?! Definitely not.

With an adult? Yes, there’s thousands of primary children on the tube every day!

He’s Year 7, not 7 years of age

SquirmOfEels · 23/05/2022 23:08

Have him wear a well fitted mask.

He'll be fine

StuckonanLNERtrain · 23/05/2022 23:14

Budgie in his pocket
It will die before he does

letmeeatcrisps · 23/05/2022 23:15

I did it for years to get to school, 30 mins on the northern line then a 30min bus. As an adult if it’s under 3/4 miles I’d rather walk than do that descent into hell. Used to have nightmares about being in the tube all the time

Doveyouknow · 23/05/2022 23:22

Walk? Or bus or bike? Most primary kids I know walk as catchment areas mean most live close to the school.

HighRopes · 23/05/2022 23:27

My dd1 has commuted by tube for several years, just as I did when I was at secondary school.

Crossing the road is a risk - she does that, too. Personally I think the benefit of independent travel outweighed the risks of air pollution in the tube. But if you’re that worried, is there a bus or overground route?

UnderripeBanana · 23/05/2022 23:40

PixellatedPixie · 23/05/2022 22:40

Do you have other options for him to get to school? My first thought (might be silly) is that if you’re that concerned about relative levels of pollution you should send him to a boarding school in Surrey! London has much lower pollution levels than in other big cities around the world.

Surrey also has ridiculous levels of pollution! Friend sent me the other day that their school is above legal limit.

NoSquirrels · 23/05/2022 23:42

Doveyouknow · 23/05/2022 23:22

Walk? Or bus or bike? Most primary kids I know walk as catchment areas mean most live close to the school.

OP says Year 7 which is secondary.

Extremely usual for secondary kids to get to school using public transport, which in London often = tube.

Changechangychange · 23/05/2022 23:43

I think OP is looking for quotes for her article…,

Original poster
Juliet57 · 24/05/2022 09:21

I'm not writing an article. I'm genuinely concerned that being exposed to high level of pollution could have an impact on DS's health. But yes there are not many alternatives apart from moving house or changing school. I was just interested to see if anybody else had similar concerns. Thank you all for your responses.

OP posts:
LaLoose · 24/05/2022 09:25

Oh for heaven's sake. My Year 8 twins get the underground and it's fine. He is asthmatic and it has genuinely never even occurred to me. Your DS is Year 7. Probably time to stop being PFB.

Goldenbear · 24/05/2022 09:25

Strange thing for people to get defensive about, it would be a valid concern for me as my daughter has asthma.

squashyhat · 24/05/2022 09:26

StuckonanLNERtrain · 23/05/2022 23:14

Budgie in his pocket
It will die before he does

😁

fring · 24/05/2022 09:33

Strange thing for people to get defensive about, it would be a valid concern for me as my daughter has asthma.

Yes a bit weird.

I'm a born & raised Londoner who travelled by public transport from the yr 6 & the pollution levels worry me.

Triffid1 · 24/05/2022 09:35

Nicely, but OP, this level of worry isn't really normal. Do you over worry about other health issues for him? Or, if you are genuinely that concerned about pollution, then you need to make the big difficult decisions and move out of the city.

Davros · 24/05/2022 09:42

If you're that concerned about pollution you need to move, probably a long way. I went on the tube to school but it was suburban so not actually underground