Private school (no bus)— we park in the parking lot and our kids (k-8) all walk at the same time to get to their own cars. Parents of K and 1 are encouraged to walk over to get their kids at the beginning of the year. It’s very chaotic (lots of kids moving, not actually stressful) for about 3 minutes but then all the kids are in cars and we exit the parking lot. I usually arrive five minutes before dismissal and we leave no more than five minutes after dismissal.

Anonymous wrote:We walk and it's about 30 minutes. The walking part is only 5 minutes each way. 20 minutes is just standing around and waiting as kids are called and take forever to come out. Car line kids definitely get the priority when they're calling names.

I'm very annoyed by the car line. Why?! If you get a bus, then take it! Everyone else is less than a mile away and can walk.

That's very strange. Our public elementary school has the kids in the gym separated into a walker half and a kiss and ride half. The walker parents pick up at the gym door, so they just call the kid and they come to the door.

The kiss and ride is a well oiled machine. Parents and kids get a number and kids are grouped in the gym. Parent displays the number in their dash. Employee with a walkie talkie stands at the entrance and calls in numbers to someone in the gym. The kid is outside waiting by the time the parent rolls up to the curb. If a parent doesn't have a number (if it's a one time pick up), they roll down their window and give a name.

I've literally never done kiss and ride before. My kid takes the bus.

Anonymous wrote:I picked up 1 block away. Signed my kid up as a,walker.

+1. Kid meets me at the designated spot. Line takes forever. And parents come so early to avoid the line but they are waiting for 20 minutes before and then the line is so long!

Anonymous wrote:Also the school - I have a 5th grader and a 2nd grader. 1st graders have to be released to a parent, so we took off early to pick him up (we live too close for a bus); this year, I wanted him to walk home with his older brother. We were told that at the beginning of the year, 2nd graders are not allowed to be dismissed without a parent, but “towards the end of the year” it would be okay. He started walking home in January and it is a game changer for us, but I think it’s ridiculous his brother couldn’t pick him up even last year to walk home.

The combination of these two bolded phrases is infuriating. The WHOLE PREMISE of "living too close for a bus" is that the kid can WALK home. And yet... they won't let him walk home from school? I would be livid. Either it's safe for him to walk home, or it's not. The school cannot have it both ways!!!

I'm so glad I live in the city, this is some real bullsh*t.

Private school, between 300 and 400 children, bus service is offered: The entirety of after-school pick-up and bus departure is wrapped up in 20 minutes. One driver consistently arrives 45 minutes before dismissal starts. If the driver would just park around the corner, she could walk up, grab the kids, and be back to the car in under 10 minutes.

Anonymous wrote:What is driving parents to "pick up" by car on a regular basis?
A. Insecurities?
B. Lack of trust in the bus drivers?
C. Fear someone will tease your kiddo?
D. Nothing better to do?
E. Show off your shiny, ginormous luxury SUV?
F. Desire to pollute the air and add to street traffic?
G. All of the above

G. but also mostly D.

Parents need to stop and think. Most of these kids need the exercise and independence walking home teaches.

[mastodon]

Anonymous wrote:Also the school - I have a 5th grader and a 2nd grader. 1st graders have to be released to a parent, so we took off early to pick him up (we live too close for a bus); this year, I wanted him to walk home with his older brother. We were told that at the beginning of the year, 2nd graders are not allowed to be dismissed without a parent, but “towards the end of the year” it would be okay. He started walking home in January and it is a game changer for us, but I think it’s ridiculous his brother couldn’t pick him up even last year to walk home.

Most of the kids need the exercise to walk home. I think it also teaches some independence. It's a good thing.

Also the school - I have a 5th grader and a 2nd grader. 1st graders have to be released to a parent, so we took off early to pick him up (we live too close for a bus); this year, I wanted him to walk home with his older brother. We were told that at the beginning of the year, 2nd graders are not allowed to be dismissed without a parent, but “towards the end of the year” it would be okay. He started walking home in January and it is a game changer for us, but I think it’s ridiculous his brother couldn’t pick him up even last year to walk home.

Anonymous wrote:What is driving parents to "pick up" by car on a regular basis?
A. Insecurities?
B. Lack of trust in the bus drivers?
C. Fear someone will tease your kiddo?
D. Nothing better to do?
E. Show off your shiny, ginormous luxury SUV?
F. Desire to pollute the air and add to street traffic?
G. All of the above

I don't think this is totally fair, as people do have legit reasons. But on the other hand I know a lot of parents who are unwilling for their kids to try the bus, and they won't let even their older kids walk. I think it has to do with "easing the path" for their kids- a misplaced sense of protection.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What is driving parents to "pick up" by car on a regular basis?
A. Insecurities?
B. Lack of trust in the bus drivers?
C. Fear someone will tease your kiddo?
D. Nothing better to do?
E. Show off your shiny, ginormous luxury SUV?
F. Desire to pollute the air and add to street traffic?
G. All of the above

My autistic kid has therapy after school. We don't have time, nor does it make sense to walk home just to get in the car.

After school appointments or activities, plus parents of younger kids who have to cross a bigger street but don't have a close bus stop make up most of the parents who drive at our school.

Anonymous wrote:What is driving parents to "pick up" by car on a regular basis?
A. Insecurities?
B. Lack of trust in the bus drivers?
C. Fear someone will tease your kiddo?
D. Nothing better to do?
E. Show off your shiny, ginormous luxury SUV?
F. Desire to pollute the air and add to street traffic?
G. All of the above

Kids are terrible on the bus. No thanks.

Anonymous wrote:What is driving parents to "pick up" by car on a regular basis?
A. Insecurities?
B. Lack of trust in the bus drivers?
C. Fear someone will tease your kiddo?
D. Nothing better to do?
E. Show off your shiny, ginormous luxury SUV?
F. Desire to pollute the air and add to street traffic?
G. All of the above

My autistic kid has therapy after school. We don't have time, nor does it make sense to walk home just to get in the car.

Anonymous wrote:What is driving parents to "pick up" by car on a regular basis?
A. Insecurities?
B. Lack of trust in the bus drivers?
C. Fear someone will tease your kiddo?
D. Nothing better to do?
E. Show off your shiny, ginormous luxury SUV?
F. Desire to pollute the air and add to street traffic?
G. All of the above

Or most likely, the county doesnt offer bus service to your kid. WTF. Nor does it prioritize pedestrian safety nor are there sidewalks or crossing guards available.

We walk and it's about 30 minutes. The walking part is only 5 minutes each way. 20 minutes is just standing around and waiting as kids are called and take forever to come out. Car line kids definitely get the priority when they're calling names.

I'm very annoyed by the car line. Why?! If you get a bus, then take it! Everyone else is less than a mile away and can walk.