to be miffed at being called "brave" for walking to school?

[Ripeberry]

Today was absolute gridlock around our school due to a motorway accident.
People were taking up to 1hr to travel less than 1 mile as hardly anything was moving.
Managed to get down local country lane and use a public footpath through a field, not too muddy and luckily the weather was beautifull.
Half-way up the hill, get overtaken by 2 landrovers who had the same idea to go in the backway, but no-way were they walking.
They literaly drove up the grassy field.
The DH came back down and asked if we wanted a lift, but i declined as it never hurt anyone to have some exercise and anyway my 3yr old loves walking.
They just thought we were brave to walk up the hill, its not K2!
Managed to get into school on time but someone who actually lives at the bottom of the public footpath, did not want to walk and got in over 45 mins later.
Its only 400yds up the road!
Just makes you despair!
AB

YANBU it takes 10 minutes to walk to DD's school. Out of 6 house we're the only ones who do it. I'm always home before the drivers as they get stuck in the traffic jam outside the school.

You should walk anyway really

Grrrrr, the school run, dont get me started. I mean, what is it with people? I understand if you life in the middle of nowhere and the roads are not safe to walk on, but aren't most primary schools within walking distance according to catchment areas etc? I understand if you have to drop off and then go to work, but really, is it so hard to stick a rain coat on and some wellies and bloody well walk?? I see this alot with M&T, people cannot believe i walk, its only 15 minutes - whats the big deal?? OK so i dont drive, so easier to be holier than thou. I just think it sends the wrong messages to our children if we get in the car to do the ten minute journey to school. You never know, they might even enjoy it - i used to love walking to and from school with my parents.

I walk everywhere and people are genuinely surprised and you would think i had walked a half marathon, when they say, oh how did you get here - i walked!!

People actually drive 400 yards?

I have to go straight on to work after my school run. I walk up to the school (9mins) drop her ladyship, walk back (9mins), get into car outside my house and drive on. All this in my work heels.
Other mums think I'm bonkers - especially when dd scooters and I have to walk back in heels and business suit with pink scooter!
I think it's quite important that we walk so we can observe our local community and smile at our neighbours - and dodge the dog poop.

Just imagine if it had been raining, then they'd be nominating your dcs for a special 'Children of Courage' award.

Don't mention awards Kathy. Transport for London just relaunched their Walk to School thing where you get a badge if you walk to school for a month (you get a card at the beginning to tick each day). Dd is most concerned that the headmistress doesn't see her scootering up to school in case she doesn't get her badge.
They're nice little badges too. Thank you Mr Livingstone.

Oh, ROFL at your dd's scooter concerns! That's very sweet.

Well I live about 200 yards from DS's pre-school playgroup and there are plenty of people who live in the same road/next few roads as me who all drive there. Think I am one of two people who walk there!

well, at least they think you are brave!
Here in Milan I think the average Milanese thinks that I'm stupid to use public transport to take the dc to nursery , instead of putting them in a car and contribute to the pollution

It's a nightmare to park near my DS school. It would take me as long to drive and park then it does to walk. (10mins).

Not only is it healthy but it sets an example to.

When my DS started school he moaned about the walking now he moans if I say we need to go in the car.

Good for you walking, you brave little thing you.

that is enough to make you despair. 'Brave' to walk a mile. Now if it was across the Serenget then fair do's!
Anything under 2 miles and I walk it.
And I have MS and am pushing dd's wheelchair. It does me despiar how lazy and wussy poeple have become.

YANBU - I thought you were going to say you walked 4 MILES!!!

Lots of people drive to our school & because parking is limited, they arrive 30 mins b4 kids come out!! Sit in car reading newspapers

we do drive 1 morning because we go swimming str afterwards & we would not have time to walk home & then walk/drive to swimming pool. 20 min walk unless DD(3) pushes dolly to school & then have to allow 45 mins

surely if you get there half an hour earlier it makes nonsense of the whole 'it takes too long to walk' excuse.
Who wants to spend their day sat in a car when a 10 min walk will get them there?
Its like poeple have forgotten what legs are for!

I agree NeedMoreCoffee but they all sit there in a row in their cars waiting....

maybe they live a long way from school but doubt it as school isnt top one in area

I agree Ripeberry. There is gridlock at our school and I know several who clutter the place up with their cars when they live walking distance away.

[hijack - franca are you i milan? dh's sis lives there...we could have a meet up next time we go out there!?]

so bizarre that people would chose gridlock over stroll to school with kids. it is my favourite time of day, walking and chatting with them to school, we do spellings, talk about who is having what play date, have a general chat and its not rushed, its no stress as it always takes the same amount of time as we are walking. its just lovely.

LOL at children of courage awards.

So I hope you're all volunteering enthusiastically to set up Walking Buses? You do know that schools are crying out for determined committed people to run Walking Buses don't you? It is unbelievably difficult to get parents to volunteer to walk them, even parents who walk anyway.

PSCMum I aspire to have a walk to school that sounds like yours. Mostly, DD, DS and I are running...

we used to run.
then we moved schools to one that is 12 mins away, its perfect.

[sophable, yes, we moved back to Milan right before Christmas. Let me know when you are coming, I'd be thrilled to meet you]

People actually drive when a walk would take 10, 15, 20 mins? {shock] Seriously?

Probably because walking is so dangerous because of all the traffic.

I must walk several km over the course of a typical day, don't know how much exactly. Usually (when not absolutely shattered and weather not hideous) I love it.

PSCMum, I live literally 6 minutes walk away from both my DC's schools. It takes about 10 minutes leisurely pace to drop both off on time.

But I can usually do both schools in 4 minutes. (Not bad, eh?)

i miss being able to walk.

we used to go to the school at the end of our road (and yes, even then, people used to drive!), but we moved them as they were ignoring my concerns re DD2's dyslexia.

the school they attend now is 40mins walk away, and altho we have walked it (and loved it too), since our car accident my hips just aren;t able to do it anymore.....especially as the school is also at the top of a hill!!

I am damn sure tho that I will be back at least trying tho come the summer.....I will drive to the bottom of the hill and walk from there....at least trying to do half is better than driving the whole way. (I hope anyway)