CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » General Edinburgh

Number of parents on school run (Edinburgh) at record high

(8 posts)
  • Started 11 years ago by kaputnik
  • Latest reply from kaputnik

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  1. kaputnik
    Moderator

    From today's chipwrapper - Number of parents on school run at record high .

    PARENTS are fuelling a rise in congestion-causing car trips by dropping their kids off at the school gates in increasing numbers, according to worrying new figures.

    A Transport Scotland survey has revealed 19 per cent of parents drove their children to school and nurseries in Edinburgh last year despite concerted efforts to promote alternative forms of transport such as cycling and walking – up from 17 per cent in 2010.

    A further 6.4 per cent chose to park and stride, driving close to schools before walking the rest of the way.

    Those sending their children to independent schools remained the worst offenders, with 56 per cent of parents driving directly to the school grounds or parking nearby – a factor probably caused by pupils largely not living within traditional catchment areas.

    Posted 11 years ago #

  2. LaidBack
    Member

    Sure a few more posters encouraging people walking about the city centre to use their cars less will reverse that....

    The biggest transport education programme is carried out by parents themselves.
    That and the persistent advertising and sitcoms showing mum and dad being admired by a child and their friends for having a 'cool' car at the gate.

    This years child in the back seat can see how cars work on a daily basis (if only these pesky cyclists, red lights and traffic wardens didn't get in the way).
    Obviously everyone can't cycle their children to school - even cycle-friendly Sciennes has to have active days to promote the concept. But we should be expecting a modal shift if we want to promote health and an improved street environment.

    One answer is to increase the car exclusion zone around schools. Time to set up check points! Each school should submit the breakdown of how people arrive there. Competition to find the schools that can change the most. Those that are successful at attracting increasing numbers of cars are also worth studying as each form of behaviour has a reason. People generally do whatever is easiest.

    Posted 11 years ago #

  3. SRD
    Moderator

    we received notes from the police in school bags last week. the police are going to do an 'awareness day' and an 'enforcement' day. wish they were doing it earlier in the year.

    I was a bit disappointed that it seemed to emphasize things like 'kids in poorly fitted car seats'. when the real issue ought to be 'parental driving style'. Mr SRD reported kids being dropped off in the middle of the road recently and parents trying to pull away before kid had safely reached pavement. I've also seen kids not even seat-belted in, bouncing around in the back seat. crazy stuff.

    More generally, there is talk of a council plan to implement exclusion zones, but i'm struggling to find out any details.

    Posted 11 years ago #

  4. kaputnik
    Moderator

    Three times when I've nearly been taken off the bike by a door opening into the cycle lane from a car stuck in traffic and three times it was a parent stuck in traffic and de-camping their kids.

    Of course it's entriely unscientific as I happen to do my morning commute at height of school-run-o-clock.

    Posted 11 years ago #

  5. holisticglint
    Member

    ... the police are going to do an 'awareness day' and an 'enforcement' day.

    Will be interesting to see what happens

    http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-leicestershire-22599596

    Statistics at the end of the report are frightening for such a short period of enforcement.

    Posted 11 years ago #

  6. crowriver
    Member

    Great link there. I see this kind of behaviour every day outside the primary school where my kids attend. Cars and taxis mounting the pavement to turn around, etc.

    It's pure selfishness, and woe betide anyone who dares to question it.

    Posted 11 years ago #

  7. Wilmington's Cow
    Member

    Interesting comment

    "There would be a lot less congestion if this council managed the roads properly. Let's look at the ludicrous anti- car policies that have been prevalent since the early 90s before we start blaming motorists shall we?"

    So there are anti-car policies, and yet more people are taking the car? Not very effective these anti-car policies are they?

    Posted 11 years ago #

  8. kaputnik
    Moderator

    Let's look at the ludicrous anti- car policies that have been prevalent since the early 90s

    Look at pre-1990s photos of Edinburgh and you will never see any cars or traffic congestion. There's no scientific basis for this, but it's a fact.

    Posted 11 years ago #

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