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?

It's one month. They can walk one way and you can always drive if there's a storm or what not.
I think it's fine for them to walk one way at least. DH can pick them up in the car!

Yes, I agree. Best solution.

The children need taking to school, a six mile walk is too far each day.

I don't think op is intending on walking with them, so she saves the time driving.

Op can you drive them part of the way, or pick them up after school?

Are they fit and healthy? I'd see how they go but have a plan in place for taking them when they have heavier than usual bags, bad weather etc

I'm surprised the OP hasn't responded to this suggestion. It makes a lot of sense.

I’ve just looked and our school is 1.2 miles away- I happily walk this twice a day 2/3 times a week (when I am not at work in the office), as do the kids and TBH it doesn’t even feel much of a distance. I think 3 miles would be fine as long as we weren’t late!

Is there a bus they can get? Could they cycle part of the way (maybe leaving bikes at a friend's house so they don't have to cycle the steepest bit)? If the steep part is coming home and DH does pick up then he could bring bikes back and they'll have a lovely downhill cycle in the mornings. Do they have friends that you could share lifts with?
I don't think an hour's walk at 12 and 13 is unreasonable, however, and the road should be open again before they would be walking in the dark.

Also, consider the safety aspect of it too.

It's in the Op.

In fairness to that poster it wasn't until the OP edited her post.

It’s too far! Much too far. You are being completely unreasonable op.

An hours walk each way, they’ll be fine! Can believe all the people saying that’s too far… if it’s a really crappy day perhaps try to pick them up? 3 miles is nothing, but then that was the distance I walked to school each way so…

I walk three miles with the dogs every day. I’m sure if I can manage it at 72, a 12 and 13 year old can do it.

I walked 2 miles to school as a teen (and home). Extremely heavy bag, in the days when you had actual books on history, science, literature etc to cart around as well as your "books". BUT, it wasn't rural. There were no hills. I was in streets or in busy places the whole way.
I know there are 2 of them, but I don't like the sound of their journey, with an extra mile added. They'll soon be in the dark for the end of the walk home.

Yep. Tbh this thread is a bit of an eye-opener for me as to just how sedentary and can't-do the majority of people have become. 'Ooh but how would you like it having to walk three miles twice a day?!?!'. Well I used to run more than that to work every single day, I still do whenever I can, and I bloody love it, and that's because I got into the habit of daily exercise when I was young, including a 4 mile bike/walk to/from school most days. Some of the excuses are just daft - e.g. 'What about the evenings drawing in?!?!' - it's 2 September, the OP said the offending roadworks would be for a month, and I'm guessing the OP doesn't live in the Arctic circle. Mithering crap.

Of course children should be able to walk 6 miles a day, but every day an hour before and after school, on roads that are too hilly to ride a bike, possibly carrying backpacks? Have your DH collect them as usual and let them walk on your drop off weather dependant because arriving at school soaking wet is no fun.

There must be other parents / school kids in this position can you not arrange to share? have the local authority not set up alternative measures? There's no way I would walk an hour before and after work 5 days a week.

@coffeetasteslikeshit, @Bbq1 It's in the edited OP but not the original. You are 'that person'.

@DHdoingmyheadin , I'd take them in the car but let them walk home.

I would park as near as possible to the roadworks. 6 miles is a lot and also if it rains unless their rucksacks/school bags are waterproof, then their books will be ruined. Many a night spent drying out soggy schoolbooks from past experience! Or do the afternoon pick up going round the detour.

I’d say they walk/cycle there, and get a lift back since it’s the end of the day, and uphill that direction. If they’re safe cyclists, it would be madness to sit in traffic for that long rather doing a 20 min bike ride.

Except that the OP says that they are "right on the edge of the road works", so not sure that it would save much walking distance.

Bike with them

Sorry no time to read all responses but someone early on suggested that there may be pedestrian route past the road works. Have you checked for this? If so how long would the walk be going that way? Or could you arrange for someone the other side of the works to pick them up?

Three miles once a day? I am in team walk.

There will be

They can walk. Mine would twist if it was walking to school but happily walk miles to meet mates. Don't engage, smile and wave them off.