To make the kids walk 3miles to school?

[DHdoingmyheadin]

Due to ongoing roadworks, the main road through the village to my kids school is closed and will be for c. a month. We are right at the edge of where the roadworks are so we have two options:

(A) A 15 mile detour by car, down the road all the traffic is being funnelled down (a main A road that is congested even when the road through the village is open). Which I trialled yesterday, and took me 45 minutes each way. This was with no school traffic as schools go back tomorrow. So I’d be doing at least 90 minutes of driving each morning and DH 90 mins in the afternoon.

(B) The kids walk to school and back. 3 miles each way.

DH is adamant I can’t possibly expect them to walk. It’s hilly. It’s due to rain. I think they walk. I think it would be insane to drive when it’s literally faster for them to walk. It’s 3 miles. I’m not asking them to swim the channel and then scale Mount Everest. Kids are 12 and 13.

AIBU to put my foot down and refuse to drive?

Depends on their ages.

Do they have bikes or scooters that sounds more sensible? Or could you leave earlier for less traffic?

Is the road closed to pedestrians? If not I would keep my car parked the other side of the roadworks and go from there.

6 miles walking a day is quite a lot, it will be dark for the later part. Do the kids walk alone or will one of you need to do 2 x 6 miles round trips a day?

Would you be happy to do a 3 mile walk twice a day in the rain before and after work? Give them a bloody lift!

They bike? I’d be tempted to offer them £10 a week for cycling as it’s the money saved on petrol.

Could they bike on days it’s not chucking it down, and you give lifts on the days they’ve got to take ingredients in/it’s pouring it down.

Surely three miles is only a 20minutes bike ride. It will be good for them and the planet.

Walking one way feels like a fairly obvious compromise.

Ride your bike and meet them?

6 miles a day? That's ridiculous.

Can you use bikes or scooters -3 miles is a fair way.

On hideous days I'd def drive them

Are you being serious?

I’m not asking them to swim the channel and then scale Mount Everest. Kids are 12 and 13.

From the OP.

Agreed especially in the winter. If they can't cycle then yes I'd give them a lift.

Compromise: drive them when it’s raining or you’re not in a rush to get to work; let your H do whatever he chooses.

My kids have to carry heavy rucksacks (loads of textbooks required) so I would prefer not to make them walk 3 miles given the circumstances.

Too far. But there must be some other options like driving part way, sharing lifts

Bikes.

if you get mountain type bikes they’ll be good over footpaths and Bridleways you don’t need roads,

you can get panniers to go on the back for OE kits and similar.

my kids grew up in Cambridge abd everyone bikes to school there.

It’s a hour each way - they would need decent rucksack and possibly an extra snack but beyond that it’s very good for them - longer for them shorter for you

yes it’s something I would do myself - it’s rare that there is heavy rain - I guess you need to watch the forecast and get up earlier on those days to take them in

Not unreasonable at all - in fact, I’m sure it would be good for them! Make sure they’re wearing good shoes and coats. I used to do this regularly as a kid (usually when I missed the bus). At 12 and 13 they should be able to find their way and navigate roads, and they’re together. Not a problem. I’d give them a lift in torrential rain.

It’s not winter. It’s barely even autumn. Let them walk @DHdoingmyheadin, it will do them the world of good.

Cycle, yes.
Walk, no. It’s too far before and after a full school day.

I walk quite fast and average a mile in 15 minutes. So three miles wouldn't really be faster than the driving time you've described. At best it would be the same.

Where do you live that it's dark by the time they leave school? Where I am, sunset is around 8pm at the moment.

12 and 13 year olds are surely walking themselves to school anyway aren't they?

Same here. Secondary backpacks are HEAVY. My DS12 who is small for his age takes the bus and he still has a sore back in the evening. 3 miles takes roughly one hour and 12 minutes (Googled it). Walking without a heavy backpack in the morning- fine. With a heavy backpack- not fine. In the evening it will be dark and they will be tired already so please fetch them.

OR you walk with them in the morning and carry their backpacks and DH fetch in the evening. I actually carry my son's backpack to the bus stop every morning because it's so heavy.

3 miles from the school is the determiner for SEN school transport funding over the age of 7.

If a child with SEN, and no awareness of danger, and mobility problems, is expected to walk 3 miles (6 mile round trip) daily to get to school, I'm sure your 12 & 13 year old will be fine.

At 12 and 13 can’t they cycle there themselves? Why do they need to be collected?

OP edited the post to add the ages. They weren't mentioned originally, you can see in the edit history