Parking and the school run, what are your views?

[WideWebWitch]

Well, if mumsnet is anything like real life, this thread should degenerate into a slanging match but I hope not

At ds's school the majority of the (mostly middle class, I feel I should point out) parents on the PTA committee take the view that driving to school is a heinous crime and that daring to park outside the school (even legally!) is just as bad (although they seem to think it's OK if you're a teacher. Hmm). Apparently we should all walk or park miles away and then walk the remainder of the journey so our kids don't have traffic anywhere near them. In my view this is unrealistic since many parents have no choice - they have to drive to get their child/ren to school and get to work on time and simply don't have the time to park and walk. Or, like me, they have other very small children or babies with them. I walk sometimes but others it just isn't possible - if I have somewhere to go straight after school, for example. Also, we live in a city and I feel the kids should be taught road sense - they're far more likely to get run over in Sainsbury's car park since I think the parent drivers are very careful on the whole.

It seems to me that parents get a hard time for driving to school despite the fact that the majority of morning and pm traffic is NOT the school run, but commuters (I assume, but I think I'm right). So, my questions are:

• What do you think? Is there a big old row/driving drama going on where you live too? IME parking and driving the school run is a huge preoccupation of many parents I know.
• Anyone know where I can get some stats re traffic, the school run, accidents and where they happen etc etc? I'm torn between staying out of it at our school or wading in to the battle with both feet and joining the transport committee to argue for The Drivers. Eeek!

it's more that he does it on purpose- to him running and being chased is a game, but with absolutely no understanding that a roas is dangerous. Also because I told him off for running into the road he now does it on purpose.

It's a nightmare actually, had a big discussion about it yesterday with the autism outreach team- who are going to try and have a set place for chasing, and a "no cahsing" rule elsewhere.

Jenie, can't think who that was aimed at if not me but am not about to justify my shoe buying choices to you.

must say (nice ingratiating smile) it was a crappy reason!

I drive DS1 to school. I choose to park a nice 5 minute walk away rather than battle for spots at the school gates though.

If it's been raining, DS2 gets his wellies and waterproof trousers on and goes stamping (and, on one occasion, swimming) in puddles. If DS1s £30 leather shoes from Clarks couldn't stand up to a bit of mud and rain, I'd take them back. My shoes are old battered suede slip on trainers. Completely impractical for wet weather but they (and my feet) dry out eventually.

I think there are 2 different points to make here. The first is parking around schools. Some people do park and drive dangerously around schools and for the most part they are picking kids up & so should know better. I think they should get ticketed regularly. The other point is actually walking or driving to school & the difference it makes. I'm guilty of living 10 mins away from school, but regularly driving. This is because I work p/t & have only 30 mins to get to work after having dropped kids off. Journey time is at least 25 mins so don't have the flexibility. We do walk whenever we can though, as I think it's good for the kids (wakes them up in the morning). My particular gripe is people who complain that roads are much quieter during school hols, and then immediately assume it's because of the school run. Has it not occurred to them that teachers are all on holiday, and most working parents will take their hols during school hols & therefore are not driving to work (Oh, and politicians and staff get hols then don't they?) BTW not getting at you CD as you will have thought of this anyway, but frequently hear this comment from some sad bloke in grey suit who seems to really believe it is just because mums aren't driving kids to school.

Have to stand up for WWW here, I would not be impressed at having to shell out another £30 for a pair of shoes because the initial pair had gone all stiff from getting drenched. I think £30 is the going rate for a pair of decent, fitted leather shoes as opposed to a pair of plastic trainers from woolies.

I don't see why mothers and children should get wet when NOBODY slags of Mr Fat Businessman in his company mondeo. If you want to have a go at anyone, have a go at those who cause 80% of the traffic and have big healthy adult legs, not those who cause a measly 20% and have small children with them. At least they've got two in the car at least, not just one. ooh, it makes me cross.

Berries - hear hear. Of course, Mr Dad is on holiday and not driving to work because his kids are on their school holidays. The roads are clearer for precisely the same reason as the holidays are far more expensive.

Oh well, I did ask for views so I was bound to get some I didn't like. Marialuisa, they were fitted Clarkes ones but as I said, I'm not about to justify it. Berries, I agree. I don't think my blood pressure can stand being on the committee actually so I'll settle for writing to them to make my views known I think.

If we banned the "Work Run" think how much less traffic there would be on the road I'm sure I tried to make that point in a similar discussion, Aloha. It's so true, you see loads of lone drivers tucked up in their cars, generally yattering into a mobile too. And it;s all absolutely fine for them to be there.

It doesn't worry me if people want to drive to school, but at least don't just park your car in the middle of the road. Generally I would say that around the time of the school-run drive is the most dangerous time to drive in the day. I never see so much bad driving.

Also, during the school holidays the roads are also clearer at 6pm. That's not exactly the result of reduced school run traffic, is it?

Soupy - work run

I think if people are parking safely and legally then your PTA should butt out, WWW. They're not guardians of people's morals, are they!?

What about suggesting the PTA sets up car pools for people who want/need to drive to school? That would cut the number of vehicles and would be a sensible thing to do anyway.

Obviously, if there are issues with safety, that's another thing entirely. Driving at speed past our school is more of an issue for me. The council is supposed to be implementing a 20mph policy outside schools. Will be interesting to see if it makes any difference.

My mum doesn't drive so she walked us 30 mins to school every day, come rain or shine, when db and I were at primary school. I don't remember getting wet all that often, tbh, and in any case, we're still here, we didn't melt. It was a real treat on the exceedingly rare occasions my dad came to collect us in the car. I'll admit, though, it is nice to have the option of a car if the weather is foul.

WWW, I was trying to say I understood your point! Don't get cross with me.

marialuisa, i know, i wasnt cross with you! at work run!

Suedonim, yes, I know that we never got a lift in the car as kids - me neither. But then I had no central heating and ice on the inside of the windows and I'm not sure the younger generation are as tough as we were ;o

I know suedonim - we used to walk to school on our own at about 7yo but i shouldn't think many people do that now

A tangential observation and a question.

1. I take ds (4.9) to school on the Tube, which involves going via mainline station with the serious commuters. Serious commuters are quite considerate of us (as are we of them, eg we try hard to keep out of the way of the frantic ones), but all look at us as if we are a pair of blue whales or Martians.

2. School is too far for a walking bus - love the idea, but I'd love to find a share-a-ride website where I could join a club for a minibus load. Does this exist?

I must admit I do drive to school, I have three girls, the youngest of which is 2 plus I take my neice as well and its a real rush to get to school in the mornings. Added to which I have no desire to get drenched when its raining. My main reason though is that I have anxiety problems so always like to have my car nearby. I do however try not to park right close to the school unless Im really late..which happens rarely!

ks - our office has a car share notice board where people can advertise to lift share. We have several groups of people who meet in various out of town shopping centres and one person will drive them all here.
Whilst I understand that there are valid reasons for having to drive children to school there are too many parents who do not have those valid reasons who still insist on being inconsiderate. Our school rule is that parents entering the school in cars should drop off only and not leave their cars - special stickers for those who have a valid reason (diabled parent, disabled child, Special needs of child or siblings etc.), however, this rule is always broken by parents who seem to think it is their divine right to abandon their car on the school doorstep and walk little darling to their class door then catch up with the latest gossip before driving to the gym to run 20 miles on the treadmill (one parent actually does this). You may tell that it annoys me slightly.
One of the rear entrances to the school is on my road an several parents park on there and walk children into school - most park sensibly and are not a problem - some, however, do not. They block drives, park on the designated children crossing section and double park. Their number plates are printed in the school newsletters but it never seems to make any difference. I feel that the walking bus is a great idea - or even a proper American type school bus from the two furthest estates within catchment with a few stops on the way. Then, cars could be banned from the school grounds (teachers and sticker holders excluded).

Everyone who drives to school will give a valid reason for doing so.......who's going to admit that they're just plain lazy? I drive ds to primary (10 min walk away for a grown up) ds1&2 walk to secondary (20+ minutes).The main issue at our school is the complete lack of respect for pedestrians and local residents. There are zig lines on both sides of the road outside school but they are in the main ignored, drives are blocked, parking on the pavement, speeding, you name it, it happens. By all means drive to school but drive and park considerately and then we can all get there and back safely and stay sane!

Jaybee.....which brave soul takes the registration numbers? you'd need body armour to do that at ds's school

binkie, love the blue whales! ks, love "don't hit Mr Smithers"! soupie, love the work run! Keep 'em coming!