There is apparently a phenomenon in the US now, where parents drive to the school individually to pick up and drop off their children at the beginning and end of the day. Some people I work with even take time off from working to do this. When the parents descend on the school each day there’s insane traffic, cars lined up for miles, all idling their engines. What happened to school buses?

  • DidacticDumbass@lemmy.oneEnglish
    3·
    2 years ago

    It is so miserable and effectively shuts down a major street. People will tolerate the dumbest things just because it is the status quo.

  • 10_0@lemmy.mlEnglish
    3·
    2 years ago

    People hate taxes, Americans hate community. We have the same thing here in the UK but only for primary schools from my memory.

    • CannaVet@lemmy.worldEnglish
      1·
      2 years ago

      This is the big thing about carbrains in the US, it’s endemic of a bigger obsession with infinite individuality. Sharing space with another human being is the ULTIMATE taboo. Depressingly far above such things as fascism and pedophilia.

  • Fal@yiffit.netEnglish
    2·
    2 years ago

    Are you suggesting they wouldn’t have to take time off if they walked to the school, then home, then back to work?

  • Billy_Gnosis@lemmy.mlEnglish
    2·
    2 years ago

    My son’s school charges $630 per year to ride the bus. And that is a public school. I still pay for it though, because, 1. I’m not going to spend my time sitting in a line cars every day. Not to mention take time off from work to do it. 2. I want him to experience life. It’s a great place for socialization

    • SuperZutsuki@lemmy.mlEnglish
      2·
      2 years ago

      So what are working class families supposed to do if they can’t afford it and the parents can’t get time off work? The kids just don’t go to school?

    • Mac@lemmy.worldEnglish
      12·
      2 years ago

      “It’s a great place for socialization” yeah like being bullied. Lol

      • Billy_Gnosis@lemmy.mlEnglish
        2·
        2 years ago

        Not sure what school your kids go to, that’s type of stuff isn’t an issue for mine. I’m sure things do happen, but that’s part of growing up and learning. It’s called life

  • jonjennings@lemmy.caEnglish
    2·
    2 years ago

    You can’t expect parents to let their kids WALK to school can you? It’s not safe - there’s so many cars around! 🙄

  • maegul (he/they)@lemmy.mlEnglish
    1·
    2 years ago

    I grew up with this culture, unfortunately, never rode a school bus or saw one.

    And yea, it is complete trash. Let’s put tiny vulnerable road-unintelligent children, all running around, in the same place as a bunch of stressed out parents driving cars while mostly thinking about work or not being late for work.

    What could go wrong!

    Shit … let’s reduce the speed limit drastically to prevent accidents! Ok, now it’s just a big fat traffic Jam! Shit … let’s build specialised roads within the school to increase the speed of drop off. Ok … now we’ve lost some of our school grounds and it’s marginally better … except everyone’s driving tanks/four-wheel-drives now so it’s pretty dangerous for kids still! Shit lets …

    Seen all of that. It’s really really dumb and stressful for kids and parents alike.

    • taladar@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
      1·
      2 years ago

      They aren’t really like tanks. Tanks have some design considerations for the driver to notice people in front of the vehicle.

  • kxta@lemmygrad.mlEnglish
    1·
    2 years ago

    where I live, there is pretty much always an elementary school within walking distance.

    yet, they still drive 🤷‍♂️

  • gunnervi@kbin.social
    1·
    2 years ago

    When I was in school, the bus route did not stop near my house, and it was too far to walk, and there was no good bike route (though one exists now). In middle and high school I would often walk or bike to a friend’s house after school but that wasn’t always an option.

    This is a situation forced on us by car-centric city planning

  • Pateecakes@lemmy.worldEnglish
    1·
    2 years ago

    Not exactly a new thing. My kid rides the bus except for special occasions, but those drop off/pick up lines are crazy. I don’t get how people handle that every day.

  • MilesMcBain@fosstodon.org
    1·
    2 years ago

    @const_void the school traffic situation was the tipping point for getting a #cargobike for us. Much calmer and faster way to do it, with opportunity for spotting and chatting about stuff going on in the neighbourhood. There’s the occasional poor driver behaviour that affects us but it’s quite rare compared what you get in the car.

  • zwerdlds@lemmy.mlEnglish
    1·
    2 years ago

    I live across the street from an elementary school and my driveway is blocked every single day. Including Fridays when I have lunch with my father, who lives out of town, and need to… Park in my driveway. Parents and school districts are inconsiderate fucks.