consultation on engines to be turned off when stationary

[miga]

Otta Wrote:

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> SEN/Disabilities aside, anyone that lives within 2

> miles of their kid's primary school and drives

> them needs shooting. Just bloody walk, it's good

> exercise for your kids and for you.

The whole family or just the kids?

But seriously - while I generally agree (minus the shooting bit), and am wound up by people parking across my drive - you can't know what manner of complication is going on in people's morning routines that means driving is a better option (different schools across the borough, dropping off on way to far flung work, morning chores etc.).

[malumbu]

I walked to school. Our kids walked to school. I am the people's poet. I am right.

On the downside the money saved on the bus fare went on sweets. I am suffering now.

Interesting observation. When I started primary school there were 140 kids coming on two double decker buses, one from the North and one from the south. By the time I'd left this was down to two single deckers. By the time I left secondary school this was down to a mini bus. And now probably a taxi for the odd kid who can't get a lift.

There's lots of stuff on risk adverse parents, but that should be for another thread. My friends moved to Scotland ten years ago and were shocked as the primary school kids all walked together without any parents.

[Nigello]

Some schools operate walk-to-school "buses" - long crocodiles of escorted children. I get that roads can be busy, but being able to cross the road and to have a decent amount of road savvy is a prerequisite for daily life, so with the help of a lollypop person, walking to school for most children nine and above ought to be a given. Driving your kids to school is not a good idea for all sorts of reasons.

Does anyone know whether any of the schools ask parents about how they get their kids to school, or whether they promote walking and public transport? Perhaps if they don't, preferring to "mind their own business", it may be a good idea to do so.

[JohnL]

malumbu Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> I walked to school. Our kids walked to school. I

> am the people's poet. I am right.

>

> On the downside the money saved on the bus fare

> went on sweets. I am suffering now.

>

> Interesting observation. When I started primary

> school there were 140 kids coming on two double

> decker buses, one from the North and one from the

> south. By the time I'd left this was down to two

> single deckers. By the time I left secondary

> school this was down to a mini bus. And now

> probably a taxi for the odd kid who can't get a

> lift.

>

> There's lots of stuff on risk adverse parents, but

> that should be for another thread. My friends

> moved to Scotland ten years ago and were shocked

> as the primary school kids all walked together

> without any parents.

We walked - but were totally irresponsible (as children were then)

We'd just decide to go somewhere after school and not bother to

tell parents - cue loads of worried parents - but in the 70s you

were supposed to encourage children to be independent so they never

stopped us.