High School How long is an ok walk

[purpleme12]

High School child
How long would you consider is an ok walk to high school?

30 mins would be the max I'd be happy with my DD walking- they have a lot to carry some days and it's getting dark coming home in winter

A walk of that distance is a few times a week, not twice daily. So if someone can drop off (lift share) near the school every day, and pick up 2-3 times a week, then walk to fill in gaps when no one can do lifts is fine. It’s too much to do twice a day every day.

Definitely investigate bike routes. Use a cycle journey planner to find a 'quiet' route. Make sure she has the right kit (day running lights, helmet, high vis) and practise together (weekend) until you are both happy she can do it safely. If her school bag is heavy (probably will be) then get a pannier rack for her bike.

I think it's Ok for an occasional journey, but not every day in the rain, wind and carrying a heavy bag there and back. My DS's bag weighs a ton - even without PE days! Is there no bus at least part of the way?

An hour. My dd is yr 7 and walks 1.5miles

I'm generally one of those "you've got legs, haven't you?" parents but I think my max would be an hour a day (so if it takes 55 mins I'd only expect it one way), or (preferably) 30 mins each way, especially if the winter weather continues this trend of frequent heavy rain.

A scooter speeds things up a lot, and is much safer than cycling as you’re on the pavement. Great way to keep fit, does suck when it’s pouring with rain, but that’s life

The walk is great for health. Its the total commute time I would be worried about. Round my way that is the sort of travel time for the kids going to the posh schools in the next town. What with all their extra curricular activities you see them getting the but about 7.15 and walking back from the bus stop at 5.45. I wonder where on earth they find the time for homework, or relaxation.

But I have super low energy kids who need lots of sleep and downtime.

DS2 walks 45 mins each way. Maybe schools up here are out of the ordinary as both DS went to different secondary schools, and neither of them actually had anything other than a water bottle and their PE kit in their school bag. Books were kept at school, food tech stuff was provided by the schools.

He leaves at 7.30 every day as he likes to get there early. However, if it's really hot/cold/wet etc I am in the position to give him a lift.

I also think it depends on the walk. This is a town walk where he can pick up his friends along the way, and has been known to treat himself to something from gregs/ the ice cream shop/the coop on the way to/from school!

Distance probs no more than 2 miles for an 11/12 year old. Possibly more if older, but not more than 3 each way. Assuming this is a safe area with decent pavements and lighting. Also, you’d want to think in the winter if they were going to be getting him after dark, I wouldn’t find that acceptable.

Ours is about 35 minutes. They can get the bus but it's usually quicker to walk with traffic. I think 45 minutes is ok.

I think it depends on the route (how nice or not nice it is) and whether there any other options such as public transport or lift if required. 55mins is a long walk in the winter and its tipping down with rain.

If it into and out of a town I think that would make it easier and options to stop off with friends to break up the walk - if its down a country lane I think that would be another matter.

DD's walk was 25 mins (1.2miles) and she was probably one of the furtherest from the school (other than village kids on the bus), she enjoyed the walk and would usually turn down the offer of a lift even it it was raining. I'm not sure how she would have felt about twice as far.

hmmm I agree with others @purpleme12 that 55 mins is a bit too long (unless that is very slow walking haha and could be done in a good deal less?).

I have a long drive to work atm and always say that if I worked in xx place I would be so delighted to walk there - it would be about 25-30 mins. But my old job was about 3+ miles away and when I did walk it, it took me 45-50 mins which was a bit much - so I very rarely did that. On which basis your DD's 55mins is long - twice a day, every day?

Also yy as others say, carrying everything is another issue. I recall once happening to meet ds2 walking home (about 5 mins btw); he was carrying his school bag, PE bag, his trumpet and for some unknown reason a tennis racquet. He was comically overloaded!

I did use to cycle to my old work quite often tho and it took about 15 mins. Luckily it was almost all cyclepaths. What would the cycle route be like?

Mine walk 45 minutes each way. Whatever the weather. There's no other option, and I don't see a problem with it.
But then again I don't drive so we walk everywhere.

How far is it in miles?

I can walk quite far in 55 mins, but I would hate to do it twice a day in the pouring rain, with a school bag, a pe bag and a catering bag.

I used to walk 45 mins to school but sometimes got a lift and sometimes took a bus (especially when raining). It was fine as all along main roads with plenty of other school kids around. My dd walks 20 mins, 15 mins bus and another 10mins walk at the other end. Always with friends .

Today my DD had three bags... her school bag with lunch and books, her PE bag with normal PE kit, and her Rugby bag with boots, gum shield etc!

I think your kids wereucky to not have the packhorse look!

If it’s your nearest school, you might qualify for a bus pass, but if it’s a school you’ve chosen and there are nearer ones, then you have to pay the fare, walk or cycle.

55 minutes each way seems as though it would be quite tiring.

Ours is a 20min walk I think that’s about right

As another poster mentioned they do have to carry lots to school as well. That's quite a lot each way with a big rucksack.

55 mins is too far for twice a day every day even in winter when it's dark, wet and they have to carry heavy schoolbag plus PE kit and whatever else.

30 mins/2 miles would be max for me. Any longer/further and need to be looking for bus routes/lifts.

Cycling opens up slightly more potential, but again those dark wet days would worry me on a busy route and would need to sort out how to safely carry extra kit.

OMG! That’s bonkers! Yes, I think they must have been!

Is there no public transport at least part of the way?

My DD scoots and carefully rides pavements most of the time.

When people say scoot on here... Are you talking about an actual scooter or an electric scooter?