5 ms·

Over here in Australia I remember the same, kids walking to school at 5 years old. In fact one time my mum forgot to pick me up, so I walked to my friend's hous

by hnick 4y ago

Over here in Australia I remember the same, kids walking to school at 5 years old. In fact one time my mum forgot to pick me up, so I walked to my friend's house. Turns out it was the wrong day, oops. But now I see cars lined up at the school near me, around the block. They'd rather sit in a line in their car blocking traffic for half an hour, instead of just parking one block away and walking with their kids (there is plenty of untimed parking, it's residential). Or, god forbid, asking their kid to meet them at a convenient corner each day. So I don't think it's just a safety thing, some parents are a little lazy too and would rather just sit in their car instead of walking or meeting other parents. This might be a country vs city thing too, since I'm in Sydney now.

Reason077 4y ago
Some of the schools near me in London close the street during pick-up and drop off times to prevent exactly that: https://www.royalgreenwich.gov.uk/info/200259/transport_and_travel/2047/school_streets https://www.royalgreenwich.gov.uk/info/200259/transport_and_... Seems popular and does seem to create a good social vibe on the street: parents actually chatting to each other rather than sitting in their idling cars!
- aidos 4y ago
  That’s a nice touch. Where we are it’s a little impractical as there’s only a single road through the village but it also means that that we’d only have to man the single point of crossing.
- hnick 4y ago
  The block I'm talking about has "no stopping" signs specifically during school pickup hours to block cars idling. But, either it's a grey area or they just don't enforce - I'd guess the parents would say they are "stuck in traffic" and not just stopped and waiting. Except maybe the one in the front. Either way, if you want to turn left at the traffic lights while that's happening you have to do it illegally from the centre lane to get around them (2-lane roads, but the left is full and the only legal turning lane there). Closing the streets could work but I think we already have the tools we need (it worked differently in the past, right?) but choose not to use them.

by hnick 4y ago

Reason077 4y ago

Some of the schools near me in London close the street during pick-up and drop off times to prevent exactly that: https://www.royalgreenwich.gov.uk/info/200259/transport_and_travel/2047/school_streets https://www.royalgreenwich.gov.uk/info/200259/transport_and_... Seems popular and does seem to create a good social vibe on the street: parents actually chatting to each other rather than sitting in their idling cars!

aidos 4y ago
That’s a nice touch. Where we are it’s a little impractical as there’s only a single road through the village but it also means that that we’d only have to man the single point of crossing.
hnick 4y ago
The block I'm talking about has "no stopping" signs specifically during school pickup hours to block cars idling. But, either it's a grey area or they just don't enforce - I'd guess the parents would say they are "stuck in traffic" and not just stopped and waiting. Except maybe the one in the front. Either way, if you want to turn left at the traffic lights while that's happening you have to do it illegally from the centre lane to get around them (2-lane roads, but the left is full and the only legal turning lane there). Closing the streets could work but I think we already have the tools we need (it worked differently in the past, right?) but choose not to use them.