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?

Absolutely, that’s how I used to get to work in London 😂

Not where i live
Funded in primary over 2 miles, no Sen
High school funded over 3 miles no sen

id drive one way and have them scooter or bike for the other way

A 6 miles round trip 5 days a week? With a school bag with books, PE kit and things like cooking ingredients walking in school shoes? No I wouldn't even try to make them do that.

Bearing in mind they will have to leave a lot earlier and get home later to and still have to do homework.

You need some bikes - get them second hand if you don't have any.

Jesus Jones in what world is three miles there and three miles back 'too much' for a 12 and 13 year old? Yes if there are biblical floods or a hurricane driving will be in order, and a rethink might be in necessary when it's dark by 5, and if the route depends on them walking along the M62 then no, and a bike/scooter would be helpful. But otherwise they'll be fine, might even enjoy it on occasion, and might pick up a habit of daily exercise. No wonder we're turning ever more into a nation of lardarses if this sort of thing is beyond the pale.

A six mile walk per day is ridiculous. Don’t you like your children?

Apologies Autumn but it's felt bloody wintery here for the past few days. It's also pissed it down for the last week and everyone is in jumpers here.

Either way I think it's unfair to expect them to do this with all the stuff they would have to carry when most adults here saying they would do it probably wouldn't in reality and definitely wouldn't do so carrying books, art folders, pe kits and all the other stuff required for secondary school.

Initially, I thought 3 miles sounded a hell of a walk to school, but then I googled my old route to school from my mum’s house and I was walking 2.8 miles each way. Never even occurred to my mum to offer me a lift!

Indeed.

My walk to school was half that distance and it was still an absolute pain with all the bags/equipment, often in crappy weather. I would be finding an alternative solution for my children in this situation.

Yes, certainly rather than have that drive!

It’s quite hilly. They’d be pushing their bikes uphill on the way home, so much easier to walk. The gradient at the steepest part of the hill is 20%.

My children have a 1.8 mile trip to secondary school; takes them between 40 and 55 minutes, depending on dawdling and snack stops! 3 miles will take ages!! And before they even start school work too. Also if it's raining or any other inclement weather they will be Soaked for the whole school day.... Too far, unless cycling as others have pointed out.

(Fwiw we drive the kids to school and they make their own way home)

I’d say ask them to do it sometimes but if the weather is foul, they have a heavy afternoon of extra curriculars or if they are I’ll give them a lift. I’d also see if they can leave stuff like sports kit or heavy books etc in school in a locker. And obviously they could walk in trainers and leave school shoes at school.

Also agree that another alternative would be leaving your car the other side of the roadworks or getting a bus the other side some days.

I would still drive them.

Your post hasn’t even detailed compromise on your part, are you at least willing to drive them if it is pissing it down?

3 miles would take them ages isn't it? Longer than it would take you to drive there...
Our school is 1.6 miles and it's a 35 min walk uphill already, I wouldn't consider anything much longer for a daily commute.

Beginning to think this is a wind up.

What? With the onset of autumn and winter storms. They will then have to spend a full day at school. Will you be expecting them to walk home as well along dark roads in the autumn? Maybe in the 19th century but not now. Get up earlier, get them prepared and drive.

I walked/cycled at that age, same distance. I see no problem with it.

So it’s downhill on the way there? The obvious compromise is they walk in and your DH can fetch them back if he wants. Or cycle there if his car can carry the bikes.

Just leave your car on the other side of the roadworks. If you don't want to leave it on the road, you can find driveway spaces on justpark.co.uk

Another vote for parking your car the other side of the roadworks.

Depends on the weight of the bags.
My primary was a 3 mile round trip, but I got the bus in secondary because my bag weighed almost as much as I did,

I'm not fussed about weather. So the rain or snow or whatever is not a problem. But I won't walk 3 miles. Cycle? Yes. As I do and i did as a teenager. Walk? No. I'd only walk that if i was going on a designated walk eith appropriate gear, time and enthusiasm. Not on a miserable morning on my way to shitty school/work would i walk an hour. That is 13yo me and 35yo me talking.

I walk my toddler to nursery and back, 2 miles each way, before and after work every day. So 8 miles total across both journeys.

If the roads are safe (ie have pavements) i think they’ll be fine.

It's a one way journey as the DH collects in the evening.

I'd drive them in heavy rain.