Walking to school

[ExcuseMyFrench]

One solution is the pedibus

Im setting one up at our local school as soon as DS is in prep!

[Full House]

What is a pedibus? We don't even have school buses in our area for primary schools (school zones are too small to justify the need).

I didn't walk to school until highschool...it was a 30 minute walk to school and my parents weren't okay with it before then. I still had independence in other ways, though. Yet one of my kids has been walking to school with their siblings since kindergarten. It's not always safe and feasible for a primary student to walk to school, due to their location, the area they live in etc. I think the decision is really individualised and needs to be based on a lot of factors. That's where I found the kid spot article to be helpful...even if parts of it were OTT. It had some good information.

[ExcuseMyFrench]

A pedibus is just like a bus with set route and stops but walking accompanied by adults (volunteers, grand parents, parents on a roster etc).
In my street we see so many families all walking the same route it would just make sense to make it a pedibus. It will also cut on parents doing the drop off with their cars.
Obv pedibus work better in city/densed populated areas.

[Full House]

Clearly not what I was imagining There are lots of families that walk or ride to school around here. We have a group of kids that all walk together...the kids pick each other up on the way to school from house to house, and big kids look out for little kids..but there's no parents involved in the walk.

[CleverClogs]

My DD would be ok now at 8 as she is sensible but to many dodgy people out there. Maybe drom 10. DS on the other hand...not till about 16! Never pays attention to anything. OUrbschool would be less then 500m , one quite road to cross and one crossing. So very safe. I think it depends on the child.

[MissMuppet]

I'll walk them to school for as long as they'll let me! I love it. Its a great time to chat.

But definitely not before 12.

[Kaybaby]

So much depends on your area, distance, roads and own children...too many variables to put an age on it really. I'm probably a bit more free - range than some and my kids walk/ride solo to school from around age 8. My 5yo rides to school with his 10yo brother....and goes to the kindy room to do before school name - writing practice and puzzles with him before the bell on my work days too. But we have a fairly close community...lots of kids out and about and everyone knows everyone.
My then 12yo walked to the bus stop and caught the bus to school from the 3rd day of highschool...it's the norm here?