The End of the school run is nigh?

[Te Bheag]

I've got 4 little boys, three of whom are at school, the other currently at a Child Minder 3 days a week. I usually drive the boys to school in the winter and we all ride the rest of the year, two on their own bikes and one (5 yo) on a trailer-bike. Mrs Te Bheag cycles to work and drops off the little one in the mornings. It's actually very straight forward to cycle and a real pleasure to hear my 5yo sing all the way to school. So far so good.

The Junior School which the yr 4 and yr 6 attend has a very nice big bike parking area, nicely built, covered and secure. The school said that one of the conditions of the Council providing the money for the shelter was that only those children who had done their Bikeability first level or were in year 6. Obviously that would have precluded my yr 4 from cycling to school. The (very nice) headteacher did tell me the conditions with a wink though... The bike shelter has at most 6 bikes in it every day...

I have no issue with the school run by car at all. Parents will transport their children in the most practical way that they can find. However, there are a number of parents who think that the School Entrance zig-zags don't apply to them and will happily stop on them morning and evening to pick up their child (usually singular). What has been most effective in stopping people parking on the zigzags is other parents glaring, or speaking with them. The number of incidents is reducing.

Occassionally we get a 'Keep Wolverhampton Moving' person (locals will know these people) at the school entrance and - amazingly - no-one parks on the zigzags...

As with most things, I think a balance has to be struck to support those who walk, cycle, bus and drive to school. It's always going to be a difficult balance to strike, but provision of cycle racks, organisation of 'walking busses', staggered finish times and parking exclusion zones around the entrances should all help. But the biggest effect I've seen has been from 'Parent Power' where the majority establish the 'norms' of behaviour. If no-one speaks up, the behaviour continues, if they do take action, the behaviour tends to reduce. And by 'norms' I mean - don't park where it's not legal/unsafe/inconsiderate.

 

[E-Bygum]

There is a compromise for parents who quite rightly in some cases where there are no clear cycle lanes to have a designated pick up point such as a supermarket car park or similar where they wait for their child to arrive on a folding bike.Unlike the old heavy ones the modern cycles are a one handed easy fold kind that are very light. I am thinking of trying a version in the form of an electric folding bike from http://futurecycling.webs.com/ park up and do the short stint through town and back then join the melee for the long haul. This getting car off the school run is a two way street if you will pardon the pun as the government have to start getting people in to employment building a better safer way for road users other than cars.Sustrans do a great job but there has to be a big drive towards building a better infrastructure and getting the unemployed involved it brings jobs but also a better awareness of what choices we have. Saturdays are worth getting the cycles out and nipping in to town if only for the joy of passing sooooo many cars are just moving if at all at a snails pace.It is a hilly return for me so just out of fun and ease I do use the electric power to assist but at least by doing that I go the back route behind the sorting office follow the beck up a hill and come out ahead of the traffic crawling up the hill and I may add still not breaking sweat...

 

[summerdays]

Parents don't spend tons of money on their kids bikes - quite often under £100, and to be honest most kids wouldn't want a folding bike - they want one like their mates which is usually a full suspension mountain bike or a BMX bike. The ones that don't follow that trend usually have a parent that cycles themselves.

The kids just need to realise that they can have fun on the bikes. I watched a program where all the cars were locked up for a week. The child wasn't looking forward to cycling, but realised that actually it gave him more freedom and time with his mates.

 

[E-Bygum]

Think I may have seen that prog? Tax's have to be raised so the motor car is an easy option and recon the goverment are in a way going to lock up the cars so there has to be choices and a lightweight easy folding bike is a good one but they do cost so down to choice I think. I took my two kids on the Spen valley sustrans route one sunday just to be nosey they in turn told their mates who in turn etc thats how it works just takes a few to try then word of mouth does the rest.

 

[D-Rider]

I have no issue with the school run by car at all. Parents will transport their children in the most practical way that they can find. However, there are a number of parents who think that the School Entrance zig-zags don't apply to them and will happily stop on them morning and evening to pick up their child (usually singular). What has been most effective in stopping people parking on the zigzags is other parents glaring, or speaking with them. The number of incidents is reducing.

Occassionally we get a 'Keep Wolverhampton Moving' person (locals will know these people) at the school entrance and - amazingly - no-one parks on the zigzags...

I cycle past a primary school every morning. It can be the most hazardous part of my commute. It's a narrowish road with speed bumps and I'm cycling up the hill. There are cars parked everywhere, doors opening unexpectedly, cars pulling in or taking off abruptly, emerging from side streets. All I can do is sit in primary all the way up the hill and keep my wits about me - makes me very popular.

During the school holidays this is probably the quietest bit of road on my commute. If it wasn't for the hill and speed bumps it'd be very enjoyable!

Yesterday morning as I approached there seemed to be a bit more order to the general melee. As I reached the school it became apparent they were having some sort of awareness campaign. They had a banner "Park sensibly - keep our kids safe" and two policemen wandering about. I'm pleased someone is thinking about this and hope it makes a lasting difference when the police are not in attendance.

 

[E-Bygum]

not sure if I can give a link to this newspaper article but amusing it is at a local school called killinghall....anyway here does just one of many new moves by the government to stop this school run madness
http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/search/1106624.Parents_face_legal_action_over_parking/

 

[Piemaster]

This topic seems to come every now and then, with the same points being raised. Daughters school and one other in the city are noted for the chaos and poor parking / parking on zig zags. Things have got worse since parking enforcement was privatised, before then a warden was there 2-3 times a week. Do well to see that many a month now, which I find odd as there is plenty of ticketing opportunity.
I'm fortunate in only being 5 minutes walk away, but do recognise that the number of schools (particularly secondary schools) seem to be dwindling giving further distances to travel for some and the days of going to the nearest school seem to have ended with parental choice. Two things that can only make the school run worse. So much for joined up thinking.

 

[girv73]

I watched a program where all the cars were locked up for a week. The child wasn't looking forward to cycling, but realised that actually it gave him more freedom and time with his mates.

I think that was part of of "Dom's on the case". I saw it too, but it's gone from iPlayer now.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00j5kty

It also had a 6 mile car vs. bike commute race, and the bike won
http://www.rainmiles.com/archives/doms-on-the-case-its-faster-by-bike.html

 

[summerdays]

Yes that's the one. It proved that you didn't need a car for everything, but that on occasions it was useful - a balance (thinking of the couple who had to take 3 trains to see their daughter).

 

[Morrisette]

My perception of this problem [Disclaimer: I don't have kids] is that the government's policy on having a choice of school to go to, rather than everyone from one place going to one school, is THE cause of the school run.

When I went to secondary school, I got a bus from the village with every other kid from the village, to one school - this wasn't hundreds of years ago, I'm talking early 1990s. It was 10 miles away on 60 mph roads - I'll cycle it now but I wouldn't have at 11 years old. Now there is still a bus to that school, but a lot of the kids go to different ones - there is no transport to these other schools - so the kids are driven there. The primary school situation is even more ridiculous - one per village, but eveyone can't get into the village school, so is given a place at a school 6-7 miles away (or more). With the best will in the world if the parents both work, cycling that distance is not going to be feasible. But to use my example again, NO ONE was driven to my primary school, as far as I can remember - all the kids in the school were from the village - no one had chosen it over a more local school because it was 'better'.

IMO, sort out admissions, and the school run problem solves itself.

 

[very-near]

The only way to get kids to school under their own power is to use the kids pester power.

The first essential rule (after the no parking, telling the parents etc) is controlled departure from the school, those with bikes in the shed go first, those going on the bus go second, those walking go third, and 20 mins after all the rest go those being picked up by Mummy.

The unsaid implication is if you are being picked up by mummy you must be a baby/mollycoddled/socially inept/retarded/

Pester Power will want to avoid the embarresment and lateness of being picked up by 'mummy' - It worked in my school years ago, no reason at all why it would not work now.

Given that studies have shown that most kids don't acquire road sense until they reach the age of 13 means that many parents rightly are wary about letting their kids cycle - especially with a large bag of books on their shoulder to unbalance them.

There is merit in this reasoning, and fairly arrogant to dismiss these fears when their kids have to mix it up with rush hour traffic. That of course coupled to the fact bike theft or vandalism in the sheds by other kids means the kids are reluctant to leave their bikes the.re unattended.

2 sides to every coin!

 

[Piemaster]

Morrisette, exactly what I was trying to say, though not as eloquently as you.
We have a friend whos daughter is starting school in September, but hasn't got a place at the local school,a short walk away) as its admission is full. She is now having to face taking her to one 3-4 miles away.

 

[Morrisette]

Morrisette, exactly what I was trying to say, though not as eloquently as you.
We have a friend whos daughter is starting school in September, but hasn't got a place at the local school,a short walk away) as its admission is full. She is now having to face taking her to one 3-4 miles away.

Maybe people in these circumstances should appeal against the allocation, citing the government's own sustainable transport policy! Not sure it would be worth it/get you anywhere, but if a lot of people did it, it might have some effect....

BTW I don't know anything about the process, is it even possible to appeal the decision on the grounds of the journey to school? If it isn't, it should be. If we had a school-age child now, in our present circumstances, we couldn't do a 'school run' unless it was a walk or a bike ride. I don't drive, and Mr M's job means early starts in different locations.

 

[summerdays]

Given that studies have shown that most kids don't acquire road sense until they reach the age of 13 means that many parents rightly are wary about letting their kids cycle - especially with a large bag of books on their shoulder to unbalance them.

There is merit in this reasoning, and fairly arrogant to dismiss these fears when their kids have to mix it up with rush hour traffic. That of course coupled to the fact bike theft or vandalism in the sheds by other kids means the kids are reluctant to leave their bikes the.re unattended.

2 sides to every coin!

I think your average kid acquires road sense before 13. I have one daughter who I would say is behind in road sense - she is 11 nearly 12 and I worry when she has to cross a road by herself. But she is definitely behind her age group.

Cycle training for kids on the road starts at age 9/10 (year 5/6), and there wouldn't be much point in doing that if they didn't have some road sense. Equally it is something that you develop by using so if they never try it they won't improve.

It isn't only admissions that causes the problem though it certainly doesn't help. Otherwise why to you get parents dropping their kids off when they are going to their nearest school. One parent I saw drop their kid off by car when they lived 400 m away from the school on the same road. Some people don't know what the two things on the end of the legs are for!!

 

[Amanda P]

Now there is still a bus to that school, but a lot of the kids go to different ones - there is no transport to these other schools - so the kids are driven there.

Question: when I was at school, there was a rule that if you lived more than (I think) two miles from your school, the local authority had to provide transport.

For most kids at my school, that meant a school bus, or cheap tickets on a regular bus. A few came by taxi - paid for by the council.

Even the taxi children came two or three to a taxi, because the council wasn't going to pay for two or three cars to do the same route.

Is this rule still in place?