Travelling to school in the dark

[JigglyPuff123]

DC started y7 and has been travelling independently to school. Gets a bus at 7.45 or 7 depending on activities to school, and gets home either 4.30 or 5.30. Ten-minute walk to bus stop along lit but not hugely busy london roads. Am I being mad to let DC walk this by themself? I don’t really have a choice as I have a younger DC at home and I can’t be doing 20-min round trips daily on foot. It’s been fine so far but I’ve just realised this will all be in darkness relatively soon.
Does anyone have any great tips to make DCs feel safer travelling to school in the dark in winter?

I’m in London and unless there is SEN it would be very unusual for a parent to pick up a child from secondary school even year 7, totally normal to travel alone at that age

I couldn’t pick DC up, it’s a 45-min bus journey at least and I’ve got to get younger DC off to primary school. I’m just wondering if I should be walking older DC to bus stop, accompanied by younger DC, wait for older DC’s bus with them then take younger DC back home for 30min then off to primary school.
Seems mad but I found another thread on here where people were saying they wouldn’t let their teenage children walk around in the dark, let alone my y7.

Oh wow I live near a secondary school like 5 mins walk away and they (mostly) all travel alone to and from

Ten-minute walk to bus stop along lit but not hugely busy london roads. Am I being mad to let DC walk this by themself? I don’t really have a choice as I have a younger DC at home and I can’t be doing 20-min round trips daily on foot.

Why can't you do it? Lots of people have younger DC and do a school run/walk to bus safely etc. not a chance I would have mine out at 7am ish alone in the dark winter mornings. Sorry but there must be a workable solution somewhere.

I always wonder why people find the dark so scary. You are in London so I imagine there are plenty of streetlights so its not dark dark. There will still be people around.

Dd1 has been doing the walk to the tube in the dark when necessary since Y7. There are street light and people around, as it’s commuter time. It’s part of going to secondary school in London.

Would have thought this would be the norm in London, it is in my city? My mum insisted I have reflective strips on my bag or my coat. Otherwise, I was travelling in busy areas with streetlights during prime commuter time, it’s not like I was wandering alone down a country lane or something.

No chance would I allow my year 7 child to be travelling alone in the dark.

I would be walking to / collecting from the bus stop.

I'm a Londoner too.

I should’ve put this in AIBU, it seems as divisive.
It’s the 7am that really bothers me. We are zone 2 but it’s pretty quiet round here. DC often the only person at bus stop. It would be a right pain to get younger DC up and dressed to walk older DC to bus stop, wait for bus and come home again. Don’t need to leave home for primary school till 8.30.

Tbh I would imagine teens would get teased for being picked up by their mums?!

Are there any classmates living close by, so they could travel together. At the very least.

This sounds unsafe, she is still very young. Perhaps that is clouded for you as you have little ones but year 7 is still just a kid.

I did it at that age. Not London but was coming home from school and not getting in until gone 5 some days.

What kind of jacket and bag do they have? I'd possibly look at something reflective you could add on that won't get them bullied.

Do they know what to do if they get scared and think they're in danger?

I agree of a morning it would be a pita, could you coincide pick up on the evening so you're coming past when they get to the b7s stop?

@BakingOfTheFoodCats

Tbh I would imagine teens would get teased for being picked up by their mums?!

Well they're not a teen....

But also, really? We were always jealous of the ones who got a lfit home once it turned dark and cold!

DC often the only person at bus stop. so that doesn't bother you when its light, why does it bother you when its dark?

@BrilliantBetty

Are there any classmates living close by, so they could travel together. At the very least.

This sounds unsafe, she is still very young. Perhaps that is clouded for you as you have little ones but year 7 is still just a kid.

I agree.

Personally no. I don't think anyone should be walking alone in the dark unless absolutely necessary no matter their age. Really doesn't sound safe to me at all.

@BakingOfTheFoodCats

Tbh I would imagine teens would get teased for being picked up by their mums?!

Not a teen. Not getting picked up.

A year 7 being met at a bus stop.

@Fluffypastelslippers I wouldn’t be able to meet at bus stop most nights as I’m ferrying other DC to and from clubs. It’s not really the 4.30/5.30 evenings that bother me though as there will be a decent amount of people about. It’s the 7.45 and the 7am.

@SleepingStandingUp I’ve told DC if scared to walk fast don’t stop and go in a shop if necessary. Is there anything else I should tell them? Any advice welcomed.

@BrilliantBetty Therr are no classmates living nearby.

Mine have a mobile phone - always charged. In the dark I have lights - actually brought them for the dogs led clip on lights that flash and they put them their bags and coats. Both coats are black with have large fluorescent triangles on the back of the coat in the Middle of the back - easy to buy as tape off Amazon and then I cut out a triangle and stick it in the middle at the top. All have pin rape alarms they walk with it wrapped around their wristband pull the body off if they want to alarm to go off. Thermal underwear and decent waterproofs and gloves and hats - all go on radiators when they get in for the next morning

I don't want to make you feel guilty OP. But people are passing it off as nothing. I know it must be difficult as you have other kids. But is there nobody else that goes to your child's school who lives near by?

Does anybody rember this story of the man trying to kidnapp a young school girl? Posted the link. metro.co.uk/2021/08/14/man-who-kidnapped-and-raped-schoolgirl-in-london-jailed-for-20-years-15088720/

@WishingYouAMerryChristmasToo Thank you that’s very helpful advice.

Don’t get in a car. Don’t stop walking. Ring 999 if concerned and tell the people that they are doing it. Mine know ring 999 first and then me

*Well they're not a teen....

But also, really? We were always jealous of the ones who got a lfit home once it turned dark and cold!*

From the op she says it will be on foot not driving? Which is very different

Don’t engage in any conversations - someone says have you seen my puppy, don’t stop, someone says I have a message from your mum, don’t stop etc it’s 4 pm not 9 pm. Oh and attacks happen in broad daily not just at dusk

[quote Iloveabourbon2]I don't want to make you feel guilty OP. But people are passing it off as nothing. I know it must be difficult as you have other kids. But is there nobody else that goes to your child's school who lives near by?

Does anybody rember this story of the man trying to kidnapp a young school girl? Posted the link. metro.co.uk/2021/08/14/man-who-kidnapped-and-raped-schoolgirl-in-london-jailed-for-20-years-15088720/[/quote]
Everyone is a potential criminal. Walk in a group if you can - don’t take a short cut don’t ignore someone following you go straight to the nearest house with a light on and phone 999 if you are worrying behaviour, a car follows you or a person or any attempts to get you to talk to them - better safe than sorry