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!

Glad to be of service www.

In case anyone thinks I'm a two-jags, I worry about what cars are doing to the planet too, but the government, and preceding governments, don't give a stuff. There have been non-polluting fuels available for years, but switching to these would have decimated the oil economy, so their development was suppressed. If we really cared about the planet, we might try electing someone who gives a damn. In the meantime, it ain't gonna be saved by bashing a few mums on the botty.

Thought I would add an update on this thread:-

this afternoon, there was an accident involving 2 cars directly outside our school. One of them was parked on the Zig-Zag lines - not sure of extent of damage etc as I was in playground waiting for DD1 to get back from swimming.

Fortunately, no children were injured.

Have to say most of us parents are relieved that something has happened as now there will be an investigation with the Council and Traffic Police and therefore sort out the parking problems once and for all, before anyone gets injured or worse, killed.

We walk to school every day - c.20 mins, includes skirting round a big secondary school so we have to face their traffic from both sides of the school. Yesterday there was an ambulance - a child from the secondary school had been knocked over crossing the road Was smiling on the stretcher, so hopefully not too badly hurt ... but makes it pretty much inconceivable that the boys could ever walk to their primary school on their own.

I do feel a bit like you Slinky: Maybe now they will sort out proper traffic calming/crossing place on this busy road. It's so hard to cross safely because of all the cars parked dropping kids off, and that's with an adult's height to try and see clearly.

But some people have no choice but to drive to school. They just don't. I'm with Droile on this, completely. And I'm fed up of the holier than thou, intractable attitudes of the tossers on our PTA who would have all of us walk to school and would lynch those that dare to drive. In fact I'd have cheerfully slapped them as I struggled across a park in the lashing rain this morning with a heavy pram, wet feet and sodden hair. I fully intend to develop thicker skin and get my car out tomorrow. Rant not aimed at anyone here btw, I'm just pissed off with the whole thing. Very.

Batters, I have actually! A very stroppy one! Awaiting a response.

good for you, www!

Do you have a school/ pta magazine? Could you put a letter in that? IMO it's totally unacceptable for them to villify you for driving to school.

just had to butt in..... sorry if i make any one feel offended but I am not really that popular here anyway . I think that the issues are all being jumbled together.

1. Parents driving to school
2. Parents parkin illegally.
3. parents stopping to talk instead of going back to car.
4. Traffic jams
5. People who feel it is there right to stand in judgement of others.
6. Parents parking in front of drives.
7. Road accidents.
8. effects of car fuel on environment and so many more!!!

I dont drive but DH does I am actively wanting to start so that I can drive DS1 to school DS2 is still a baby, I live two bus journey's from the school 45 mins to 1hr on bus, to walk would be 1hr1/2 to 2hrs in rain that would be a nightmare. in the car it can be 15 mins.

DH drives us to collect DS1 on way to work or takes him depending on shift.
We always park on next road.
I just dont know why people have to have an oppionion and judge other peoples lives how do we know one person is lazy just because they choose to use the car that they have purchased, paid for fuel, MOT, Driving Lessons, Test fees, Tax etc etc to take kid to school! I was once accused by a traffic warden of being lazy, I was pregnant at the time suffering from severe sickness, in and out of hosp for blood presure, protein, dizziness, flashing lights and i had the nerve to get a cab to take kid to school!!!! No body knows peoples lives but yet they are quick to add labels and such.

I know I may sound bitter or argumentive and really dont mean to be, I have just had it uo to here with peeps sterotyping.

Accidents on the road occour other places than schools.... should nobody drive?!

rush hour and the times of heavy traffic is normally out of school times and are mostly caused by workers going home..... should they stop driving?!

Parents, and mostly mothers are blamed for so many things it has to stop.

If the education in inercity schools was made higher, people would feel more happier sending there kids to local schools, my DS1 goes to a school outside of our LEA, I tried to get him into school where i live, sent forms I was told all the schools were full and to wait until April, then told had to wait till after summer hols?! I had to call schools myself to get him in to one, My friend told me to try the school here child had been to so I called They had one space left!! I then went there and joined him there and then. My LEA then wrote me in janurary and said they had a place for my son..... That was how long I would have had to wait... and the school they were offering was in a notorios area full of drug crime mugging and lots more on that road alone!!!
Sooooooo...... It's one thing to say kids should go to schools only in catchment area... quile another in practice. If the catchment area is a nice area, with good schools... thats nice but if not....

Well I dont expect I will be liked, but hey thats life..... I just feel strongly ( can you guess )

I agree champs with pretty much everything you ahve said.

But no-one on this thread has said that people shouldn't drive to school at all! I don't give a stuff if people walk/drive/bus/cycle to get there!

All I am saying is that those who do drive (and I'm thinking of my school in particular) please do not:

park on zig-zag lines/bus stops
block roads whilst letting little "darling" out
block pavements so pushchairs cannot pass
block private driveways
park so that cylists/pedestrians view is blocked.

As I said, I am not slagging off school drivers at all - just that considerate parking is needed.

Anyway, after accident outside school on Thursday, there were police monitoring and tickets being dished out for "dangerous parking" - accident itself occurred between cars both parked on Zig-Zag lines.

My PTA seem to be saying that Slinky, hence my het-up-ness about it. I'll shut up now though