CK’s school run moan!

NBLondon

I live 75 yards from a primary school in one direction; 90 yards from a secondary school in the other. This isn't rural, this is suburban South London. I find it's a minority of idiots on the school run who give others a bad name... Both of these schools are actually on the corner at crossroads and there are Chelsea tractor types who actually stop across the corner with hazards on for 4 or 5 minutes as they unload. On one occasion, I was on the pavement waiting to cross when one %*$^&*" in a Jeep Cherokee swung across to the "wrong" side and put two wheels on the kerb where my feet were before I jumped back :mad: - without interrupting her phone call either.

Oh and don't expect to park in my street during the day - it's full of teacher's cars.

RICK..._2

This makes my blood boil. 5 min walk to DD's school, yet people who live on my street and joining streets drive their kids, in their range rovers, Q7's etc. parked on the crossings, meaning people on foot have to dive between traffic, all because they can't be arsed to park a bit further down the road!!

even after the massive number of complaints from people that live near the school nothing changes. they've even had a parking warden stood waiting, but of course as soon as they spot them they disappear.

custardy

thelawnet wrote: »

What, making a journey like that at 12mph because of excess traffic?

Absolutely insane.

Live about 3/4 of a mile from school, but take the kids climbing on Fridays, it's 6 miles, do it in about 25 minutes.



You are the cause of your problems. Make better choices.



Plus VED, servicing, MOT, financing, depreciation, etc.

Trek Transport?
kudos


The OP could save time if they biked
probably many of parents sitting in the very same traffic would too
of course its easier to sit and moan

I can beat the bus to work in the morning(no traffic at 0400)
I can beat the bus by 20+ minutes going home with traffic in the afternoon

thelawnet

custardy wrote: »

Trek Transport?
kudos

Kona Ute.
Two kids, no problem:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/32087813@N04/3861858733/in/pool-1074280@N25

Different config:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/21845659@N03/4490647058/in/photostream

Another option:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/21845659@N03/5836027846/in/photostream

Four kids in one of these:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/21845659@N03/6276724897/in/photostream

None of these are especially cheap.

I got my bike for £330 off ebay, second-hand, but I spent another £350 on seat, extra pannier, replacement rack board from US (not necessary if you fancy drilling the wooden original), bright lighting, and dynamo lighting pedals.

A new one now is £850-£950, and about £500+ on ebay for used. Cheaper than the OP's four cars though.....

I can beat the bus to work in the morning(no traffic at 0400)
I can beat the bus by 20+ minutes going home with traffic in the afternoon

Buses are horrible. I've caught one a couple of times, when having my bike serviced, you have to wait hours for one to arrive, then when you get on they are dirty, hot and smelly and full of chavs (at least when school is chucking out). If you can't beat public transport over distances of 5 miles or less on a bike, something is wrong (try harder!)....


Witnessed one mother (well, nanny, actually), driving to school yesterday from the next road down. One block, and a convenient alleyway joins the two. Grrr.....

[Deleted User]

Walk to school. I used to and I'm still here to tell the tale. Parents these days seem to wrap their kids up in cotton wool and will not let them walk anywhere.

mikey72

Deleted_User wrote: »

Walk to school. I used to and I'm still here to tell the tale. Parents these days seem to wrap their kids up in cotton wool and will not let them walk anywhere.

Do you walk 24 miles a day to work and back now?

[Deleted User]

mikey72 wrote: »

Do you walk 24 miles a day to work and back now?

No, but when I worked 2 miles away I walked it.

There is a middle school at the end of my street and it is a nightmare at home time. Most of the kids that go there are in the catchment area yet they still get picked up and dropped off in mummy's mum truck.

custardy

thelawnet wrote: »

Kona Ute.
Two kids, no problem:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/32087813@N04/3861858733/in/pool-1074280@N25

Different config:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/21845659@N03/4490647058/in/photostream

Another option:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/21845659@N03/5836027846/in/photostream

Four kids in one of these:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/21845659@N03/6276724897/in/photostream

None of these are especially cheap.

I got my bike for £330 off ebay, second-hand, but I spent another £350 on seat, extra pannier, replacement rack board from US (not necessary if you fancy drilling the wooden original), bright lighting, and dynamo lighting pedals.

A new one now is £850-£950, and about £500+ on ebay for used. Cheaper than the OP's four cars though.....

Buses are horrible. I've caught one a couple of times, when having my bike serviced, you have to wait hours for one to arrive, then when you get on they are dirty, hot and smelly and full of chavs (at least when school is chucking out). If you can't beat public transport over distances of 5 miles or less on a bike, something is wrong (try harder!)....


Witnessed one mother (well, nanny, actually), driving to school yesterday from the next road down. One block, and a convenient alleyway joins the two. Grrr.....

I use the bus
however going by posts here,our bus service is the exception to most
my commute is around 10 miles
I have eyed up the Yute before :cool: If we had the space I would have a lot more bikes :beer:
sadly,only two at the moment
though with the good weather coming in,my need for a road bike is getting stonger

mikey72

Deleted_User wrote: »

No, but when I worked 2 miles away I walked it.

There is a middle school at the end of my street and it is a nightmare at home time. Most of the kids that go there are in the catchment area yet they still get picked up and dropped off in mummy's mum truck.

So, 12 mikes is ok for kids, but no chance of you doing it then.
You don't know how big school catchment areas are either, do you?

My kids walked to the village school when they went. The kids from the next village 6 miles away didn't though, and my kids certainly don't walk the 14 miles to the secondary school.
Neither do the parents who work in the town strangely enough, so you're not alone driving to work.

[Deleted User]

mikey72 wrote: »

So, 12 mikes is ok for kids, but no chance of you doing it then.
You don't know how big school catchment areas are either, do you?

My kids walked to the village school when they went. The kids from the next village 6 miles away didn't though, and my kids certainly don't walk the 14 miles to the secondary school.
Neither do the parents who work in the town strangely enough, so you're not alone driving to work.

Yes I know what size this catchment area is. I've lived inside of it all my life.