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What do you consider to be an acceptable journey time?

Posted: Fri Oct 17, 2014 12:04 pm
by stroudydad
Prompted by a post I have read where the child leaves before 7am and gets home after 5

Re: What do you consider to be an acceptable journey time?

Posted: Fri Oct 17, 2014 12:10 pm
by Sally-Anne
The semi-official line on this is a 90 minute journey for a child of Secondary age.

Re: What do you consider to be an acceptable journey time?

Posted: Fri Oct 17, 2014 12:39 pm
by stroudydad
Hi Sally-Anne.. Surely it's official or it's not?? :-). And really I was just interested in peoples opinion, I will quite happily say I think anything more than 45 minutes is too much..

Re: What do you consider to be an acceptable journey time?

Posted: Fri Oct 17, 2014 12:44 pm
by mad?
I'd agree with you Stroudy Dad but add 'if the journey involves rolling out of bed onto a bus that goes directly to school/walking' etc etc. If the journey is more complex, involving changes of transport mode etc then I would say less than that, as this would involve multiple opportunities to be let down by the means of transport rather than just one. In London, I would also want alternative routes for when the buses/trains/tubes are on strike or when the traffic is gridlocked.

Re: What do you consider to be an acceptable journey time?

Posted: Fri Oct 17, 2014 1:32 pm
by Amber
Sally-Anne wrote:The semi-official line on this is a 90 minute journey for a child of Secondary age.
Round trip or one-way? Sounds like far too long to me. The shorter the better is my view. Ask any commuter how much they enjoy their daily journeys.

Re: What do you consider to be an acceptable journey time?

Posted: Fri Oct 17, 2014 2:13 pm
by Etienne
Note the words:
    • "as a general guide",
      "these should be regarded as the maximum", and
      "the maximum distances will depend on a range of circumstances".
Suitability of arrangements
34. As a general guide, transport arrangements should not require a child to make several changes on public transport resulting in an unreasonably long journey time. Best practice suggests that the maximum each way length of journey for a child of primary school age to be 45 minutes and for secondary school age 75 minutes, but these should be regarded as the maximum .....
35. Consideration should also be given to the walking distance required in order to access public transport. The maximum distances will depend on a range of circumstances, including the age of the child, their individual needs and the nature of the routes .....
https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/s ... idance.pdf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Re: What do you consider to be an acceptable journey time?

Posted: Fri Oct 17, 2014 2:15 pm
by Sally-Anne
Memo to me: Stay on Bucks today; do not attempt to apply limited brain cells to anything else.

Re: What do you consider to be an acceptable journey time?

Posted: Fri Oct 17, 2014 2:26 pm
by southbucks3
Basically, if they cannot cycle it without stopping for a rest break, then it's too far. That's my rules...and I'm sticking to it. :wink:

Re: What do you consider to be an acceptable journey time?

Posted: Fri Oct 17, 2014 2:44 pm
by modernista
As a commuter and someone who has commuted with a small child. If the journey is a long seated journey with no changes, it is almost therapeutic. Lots of changes are stressful esp when changes are between transport modes and involve roads where you need to be alert.
I read somewhere commuters on familiar routes will fall into a state os hypnosis i.e. they relax so much they dont know where they are at a given moment in time but will get off and change instinctively.
You have to balance what additional advantages the child will get at a further school to the negatives additional stress and recouperation time required. Make the journey yourself. I decided against it.

Re: What do you consider to be an acceptable journey time?

Posted: Fri Oct 17, 2014 2:48 pm
by stroudydad
Sally-Anne wrote:Memo to me: Stay on Bucks today; do not attempt to apply limited brain cells to anything else.
:-)