Are you driving your DC rather than let them take the public transport to get to secondary school?

[lljkk]

DH & DS cycle. They. perceive that there are more cars with secondary school age kids+one adult in them than there ever was last year when they also cycled.

I do think more people are. I had to drive DD when she forgot her mask for the bus and the traffic round the school was horrendous. It's the same on the couple of days I need to pick her up so she can make her dance class - far busier than it was before.

Part of it might just be a normal start of school thing with people getting used to new routines though.

I have 3 x dc at secondary. They take up a row on the school bus and must wear a mask.
Then enter a school with a bubble each of 300.. No social distancing and no masks allowed.

I have always driven to DD's secondary school as it's too far to cycle and not convenient for public transport. There are definitely more cars in the car park at pick up than there were last year which I guess is to do with not wanting the DC to go on public transport. There is reduced capacity on public transport with some seats taped off so the parents may be concerned that the DC won't be able to get onto the bus/tram so it might take them ages to get home/be late for school.

My kids are getting on the bus with a mask on otherwise I’d be late for work

It feels like a whiplash situation to me... we had all those empty roads & massive boom in cycling in April-May. Next (I predict) we'll get extreme congestion from new school run drivers & commuters newly driving to avoid public transport. Drivers are seeming more impatient lately to me, than say 2-3 months ago.

No, but it's only a mile and a half, so we don't really need to.

I'm walking (even in the rain) rather than driving to avoid the traffic. I do know people who are driving their secondary age children rather than have them on a crowded bus. To be fair the local school buses are usually absolutely rammed - children within cms of each others's faces so I can see why people are avoiding them.

Yes! The alternative is travelling on 'school only' buses full to the rafters with no social distancing. There are also not enough buses for all the kids that need to use them. The kids mix with all years but as soon as they enter the school gates they can only mix in year group bubbles - it's madness. I'll be taking and picking up for the foreseeable future. The school is complaining about lateness although it acknowledges that London Transport is causing the issues - and then moaning in the next breath about the number of cars dropping kids at school. They can't have it both ways I'm afraid!

Yep, currently driving DD as I have little confidence in the bus services to put on sufficient buses and I don't want her hanging around waiting with dozens of kids from school, she'd be stressed and unhappy and I want her home safe.

Our school has specifically asked parents to bring kids themselves if they can to free up space on the school buses. We're not doing that personally because we can't as we're both working.

Yup... we don't live on a bus route and are too far to walk or cycle. We used to car share but my neighbour doesn't want to any more so we both drive.

Yes, mine are in 6th form and have always walked (primary) or taken the public bus.

Now one is taking the train, costing ££, as won't get on a bus.

The other takes the bus but on some afternoons cannot get on a bus as there is no room. So I am leaving home early to avoid the school run rush hour and work from my car until she has finished. I cannot, with a conscience, sit at home with my car in the drive whilst she stands at a bus stop for an hour watching full buses drive by.

Sorry not sorry if that's making anyone else's school run take longer.

My Y7 is on the bus but there are more parents going with kids than usual as the kids haven't been able to practise going on buses over the summer. Most parents are now taking kid to bus stop, seeing they get on, and going away.

I suspect a lot will calm down after the first few weeks as kids and transport companies get the hang of it - they've just introduced a school service on our route today.

We've changed DDs journey. Before Covid her school run involved a bus and 2 trains. I now drive her to a halfway point where she can pick up a single bus. It reduces the number of contacts and waiting around at bus stops and stations, so reduces her risk a bit.

Dc1 and 2 are on the bus. Their very large secondary is in a small village and it would be mayhem if everyone drove so despite my reservations they are on the bus.

Dc3 is still at primary and most parents walk to pick up but there is no way to social distance at pick up, even though we are doing staggered starts and finishes. I've just got permission for him to walk home so I'm not adding to the throng.

I don't drive so DD (just started Y7) doesn't have a choice but to get the bus. Even if we did have a car, I'd have to be in two places at once at pickup time. The mornings are fine so far, but she was waiting ages to get home yesterday because of all the school run traffic snarling up the buses. And I worry a bit about the reportedly bonkers behaviour of parents trying to drive their children up to the school gates, despite the pleas to drop them further away. Wouldn't be surprised if an accident happens. Hoping it will all settle down a bit as the term goes on.

I'm taking ds to college whenever I can. It means that some days like today he gets there early as I time it with when I have to leave for work.

His friend got the bus back the other day and said it was awful. All the seats were full and there were not signs not to sit anywhere.

Our school have requested we collect /they walk wherever possible.
The school bus (normally over flowing) is half empty.
Mine walk halfway home and then I collect them as its too far to walk all the way.
Many parents are doing similar.

ds gets a school bus, there are 4 buses which cover ours and the neighbouring estate and he says they are all just as busy as before.

I'm not, mine are taking the bus/tube/train
But I know others who are driving who would usually send them on public transport

We have one bus an hour. They are empty in the middle of the day, but rammed during rush hour.

Bus. They are Y11 and Y10.

It's quicker (bus lanes) and they hang out with their mates. Down time at school has been cut to the minimum so they enjoy the chance to be with them.