Walking with kids

[kiery]

Has anyone else ditched the car and walked the kids to school, the shops or their clubs?

I have been doing this for the last three years; my kids walk about 2-3 miles a day and all the better for it. A few other parents have started to do this too, but I'm finding the roads are still getting a lot busier and I'm seen as a bit hard on my children. At first the kids moaned but they are used to it now, looking forward to it and are aware that a short journey doesn't need a car. Its a lot less hassel for me. What's been your experience?

[Russian Doll]

i dont drive so my four kids walk every where...they do winge a little bit but as there getting older they are beginning to enjoy it...does make me giggle though you wouldnt believe the names iu get called by the driving mums...apparantly im a wicked mum for making them walk

[Silver Ether]

i dont drive so my four kids walk every where...they do winge a little bit but as there getting older they are beginning to enjoy it...does make me giggle though you wouldnt believe the names iu get called by the driving mums...apparantly im a wicked mum for making them walk

what ... wicked for getting kids to walk ... Well my minded kids walk or get left behind ... I have one little lad who wears a step counter and everytime he does another thousand he gets really excited ... so he is excited several times a day

The thing I do worry about when walking them to school is the amount of exhaust fumes they inhale as we are on a very busy road and most of the kids are at a great hight for an exhaust pipes ... so we changed our route to improve this but it is still smelly on occasion. They walk miles in the woods their parents cant believe how far we get ...

[mrsflibble]

soph and I take regular walks in the local reserve, plus if we go to tea's neither of us drive so it's walk, or don't go.
it's been hard trying to get my petrolhead husband into the idea of walks, but when he saw how much soph enjoys it he was willing to take the odd one with us.

[John Headstrong]

We also walk all over town, nurserey is 25mins walk away (at 4 y.o. pace), and yes, people think that we are strange, but they thought that before we had kids anyway. The route we take is fairly low traffic and across a common/park, and only gets busy near the school because of the people picking there kids up. horay for the lollypop ladies.

I will use the van/car when I have other missions to do.

Last year when picking the kids up I just had to stop and have a word with someone (normally I keep myself to myself), they where parked on the pavement, in a 4x4, with the engine running, the ignorance was outstanding

[Tensing]

I walk every where, as do my kids the only exception is my 13 year oild catches a bus to school as it would not be a safe route for a young femle walking alone, also she is diabetic.

[Tigerhair]

I could take Josh to School (starts next sept) by walking, but then I have to go on to work and I couldn't walk there in the time available. Also leaving work at 3.15 I couldn't get to the school by 3.30pm - so unfortunately I cannot, but I would love to.

We walk up to the shops at the weekends if he wants a lolly or something, when we have time to do it.

[red]

we don't walk to school now cos we home ed, but used to take the car before. I feel it was valid as my son has a physical disability and we lived 4 miles from the school, on a farm.

however.. as we drove in, we would see the parents driving their kids to school... from within the same village!!

The other thing I notice is that parents are the worst drivers when it comes to the school run, they happily mount the pavement (where school kids, of course, are walking, park illegally, drive too fast.. etc.. all because they were in a rush... stuns me.. as these were the very people you would imagine would be more concerned....

[Shirley]

I'd love to walk to nursery but it's 5 miles away so just a bit too far. He'll get school transport when he goes to school though so that's just one car picking up all the kids rather than lots of cars taking the children in.

[Stonehead]

As I've mentioned before, I use a Kangaroo trike to do the runs into the village and do about 60 miles a week, over quite a hilly road - in all weathers. It was funny a couple of days ago as no one expected me to turn up as there was a very stiff breeze blowing, it was bucketing down rain and it was very cold. I still did the run.

Try pedalling 200+ kilograms up a 1 in 10 slope with only a seven-speed hub...

But the funniest thing is that every woman in the village who's chatted to me about the trike always has to get words in to the effect of "...you must have iron calves/super thighs"!!!!

It doesn't matter whether they're 18, 35 or 70. I used to tell people that if, as a bloke, you wanted to get chatted up you should have a puppy or a toddler. I'd now add "get a funky bike and show off your legs".

The OH thinks its hilarious and wants to charge stud fees as I've obviously got "excellent conformation and well-filled out hams"! She's been around pigs too much.

[Russian Doll]

i dont drive so my four kids walk every where...they do winge a little bit but as there getting older they are beginning to enjoy it...does make me giggle though you wouldnt believe the names iu get called by the driving mums...apparantly im a wicked mum for making them walk

what ... wicked for getting kids to walk ... Well my minded kids walk or get left behind ... I have one little lad who wears a step counter and everytime he does another thousand he gets really excited ... so he is excited several times a day

The thing I do worry about when walking them to school is the amount of exhaust fumes they inhale as we are on a very busy road and most of the kids are at a great hight for an exhaust pipes ... so we changed our route to improve this but it is still smelly on occasion. They walk miles in the woods their parents cant believe how far we get ...

there are only a couple of kids who walk to school in our catchment...one mum even drives her child when they live in the next street which i think is terrible.....the school is great though there trying to form a walking bus which i will be volenteering to run and really try to get kids to walk with incentives etc

[Thomzo]

In my teens, I used to walk 2 miles each way to school with my mates. We could have caught the bus but preferred to walk.

Now I drive the same distance to work but only because there is no safe way to walk and no bus that goes anywhere near.

Zoe

[Stonehead]

...one mum even drives her child when they live in the next street which i think is terrible.....

Only one? That's pretty good. I can think of half a dozen who drive less than half a block and many of the others who drive live in the village so aren't more than a mile away from the school.

There are four of us who cycle: myself, a husband and wife who take turns, and a mum. I have a trike, the husband and wife have a trail-a-bike, and the mum has a child seat so we cover most options!

[Tigerhair]

Stonehead, I would love to do as you do, but I have to go to work looking something other than a sweaty heap with wet hair, red cheeks (however, with lovely thighs!!)... I have to go straight onto reception, and don't think my boss would like the unglamourous look.

[kiery]

I agree that it is really difficult to walk to school when you have no alternative (got go to work straight after, no safe route and you have to use the car etc.).

I just find it amazing that in one generation things have changed so much. Without having the exposure to some walking I think our children's road sense will be pretty bleak and perhaps more walking would go some way to help out the obesity problem that is looming.

I hear Inverness had a car free day recently. Did it work?