Driving/ Carpooling to Independent Schools

[Anonymous]

DH asked a question last night that has me stumped: why doesn't our independent school -- nor any others that I'm aware of -- do anything to encourage REAL carpooling?

From what I can tell, they all make a big production about the carpool line, but what that really means is managing an individual car for each family/ student that needs a ride to the school. We all hear about the traffic problems, neighborhood complaints, etc etc, but I've never heard of a school making a real effort to encourage students to ride together.

There is so much that could be done here, that the school could facilitate. There could be incentives (money or time, meaning "first in line") for families that double up on the driving. The schools could help match families with others who live nearby and encourage them to look into carpooling.

Why is there just lip service given to this topic, when it's in everyone's best interest to make it work?

[Anonymous]

That's a wonderful idea and I suppose if I had to I would do it.

[Anonymous]

I really wanted to carpool and, using the school directory, quickly identified three other families who live close enough to us to consider carpooling with them. To a family, everyone *wanted* to carpool, but *no one* could because of afterschool commitments. Unfortunately, it's not just wanting to carpool--our lives often just don't permit it. And speaking only for myself, I'm not going to pull our kids out of activities just in order to carpool...

[Anonymous]

We carpool and I love it. Haven't figured out what to do with the afterschool stuff, but it still helps a lot.

[Anonymous]

You can also carpool only in the morning, or only X days a week after school if activities are an issue on some days.

Green Acres requires carpooling (or bus)(or walk), and I'm not sure how they enforce this? I suppose this is an imposition from Montgomery County due to the neighborhood..

[Anonymous]

Agree with PP. We carpool in the morning and in the afternoon as schedules permit, even though that means everyone has to be flexible week-to-week. Every bit helps!