Topic ID 2648
Of course - we knew it all along..the cure to the ills of the rat run in Byde Street, and the interminable delays on Port Hill. Yes! Dear old Duncombe School.. Forgive me if I'm wrong..but did Duncombe break up yesterday for Easter, and do the State schools break up today (Friday)? Guess what - no traffic anywhere in the area today - and, shock, horror, the traffic lights at Old Cross WERE working! So, why not sort out all this hassle now and get Duncombe to stagger their opening hours - or, if that's not possible, pursuade more of their children to walk to school - like the Millmead Walking Bus?
Reply ID 38113
I think that a proportion of the parents at Duncombe epitomise the very worst of the "School Run" parents - they drive their kids to school in the BMW X5 Chelsea Tractors even if they live within walking distance. Plus they pavement park and clog up the roads. (not all of them - before some irate parents shoot me down in flames) But before we start pointing the blame entirely at this particular school, you might get a similar effect if you kept the school run but stopped all the commuters from driving to work. It is also possible that Duncombe has a much larger catchment area than any other primary school in Hertford, due to its independent status. Meaning more kids that need to travel to school by motorised transport.
Reply ID 38117
quote:Not blaming them - just an observation on this particular day. Get your point about catchment, though. How about one of those yellow school buses that you see on American films?
Originally posted by jez_p
I think that a proportion of the parents at Duncombe epitomise the very worst of the "School Run" parents - they drive their kids to school in the BMW X5 Chelsea Tractors even if they live within walking distance. Plus they pavement park and clog up the roads. (not all of them - before some irate parents shoot me down in flames) But before we start pointing the blame entirely at this particular school, you might get a similar effect if you kept the school run but stopped all the commuters from driving to work.
Reply ID 38120
As a mum with primary kids who always walk, I hate to see others arriving at school in cars when I know that they live in very easy walking distance. I only live about 5 minutes walk from the school but I see people using cars who live the same distance from the school as me. I don't understand it as to use the car takes longer (you have to leave earlier to get a space) and it can be chaos when everyone is trying to leave at the same time so even if you need to dash off after dropping them off it's still quicker to walk back home to get the car. We had a walking bus up and running for a while but that didn't seem to encourage more people to walk as the only ones that used it walked anyway. However that I agree that many attending Duncombe probably do come from further away probably can't walk. The bus idea would be good but don't know how practical it would be. I know that the roads are much quieter when the schools are shut but then in these periods the school workers don't have to go to work and many parents take leave to spend time with the kids. So having said all that I too don't think you can blame the whole of the road congestion problem on mums chauffeuring their children.
Reply ID 38124
A School Bus might work - but there is a peculiar School Run opposite Sele School, where posh parents drop their posh kids off at the bus stop presumably to catch their bus to one of the big posh schools.
Reply ID 38125
quote:Yes we also suffer from that in Bengeo Street where the St Edmund's College bus picks up at 0820 just beyond New Road. Some children even wait in their parent's cars until the bus comes rather than mingling with the other children at the bus stop
Originally posted by jez_p
A School Bus might work - but there is a peculiar School Run opposite Sele School, where posh parents drop their posh kids off at the bus stop presumably to catch their bus to one of the big posh schools.
Reply ID 38126
There's never a traffic warden when you need one ;)
Reply ID 38129
As has been said I don't think many Duncombe pupils are local, and yes they did finish yesterday. First day of new term is Weds 18th April for them so it should be clearer on Port Hill till then.
Reply ID 38131
How often do we say on this forum: "I blame the parents" You lazy sods in your cars should kick the kids into the streets and make them walk. Then I could have a quiet life in lower bengeo.
Reply ID 38132
Perhaps Duncombe School should accept that it has a moral responsibility to the local community to provide sufficient space within their grounds to accommodate the obscene amount of vehicles delivering & collecting their pupils.
Reply ID 38133
quote:I would be very surprised if many Duncombe parents drive up or down the "rat run", they mostly come up Port Hill. They may be responsible for some of the parking in Cross Road / Duncome Road but I doubt they have much to do with the so called "rat run". A lot of the come miles so I don't think it would be practical for them to to walk
Originally posted by 2929paul
How often do we say on this forum: "I blame the parents" You lazy sods in your cars should kick the kids into the streets and make them walk. Then I could have a quiet life in lower bengeo.
Reply ID 38138
I lived 2 1/2 miles from my secondary school (in Weymouth) I normally walked or cycled. Other kids came in from such outposts as Bridport & Beaminster- by bus...... (That’s Royston distance but without the A10!) Had to be said that the few kids (& there were very few on few occasions) came in with their parent’s Land Rover ,at least they NEEDED a 4 x4 & don’t get me on the the "streets being much safer in those days" argument.. Myra Hyndley/Ian Brady anyone... although as Mrs. CP points out not necessity pertinent to Hertford Rant Over
Reply ID 38160
quote:I was going for a tongue in cheek response and clearly failed but in my experience, the school run is a huge factor in the rat run. If it was school hols traffic volumes all the time I would like to bet that the rat run complaints disapper. I know that Mill Mead and Bengeo schools may contribute as well but by the number of 4x4s parked in Cross Road, Duncombe and Farquhar, and sometime Byde Street, I bet that Duncombe is the biggest culprit. I have no stats to back it up but I have lived here for many years now and would estimate 50% of traffic driving through Byde Street to be parents on the school run, depending on the time (in the morning). Angry commuters in the evening rushing to get back home for tea is another matter.
Originally posted by Marilynquote:I would be very surprised if many Duncombe parents drive up or down the "rat run", they mostly come up Port Hill. They may be responsible for some of the parking in Cross Road / Duncome Road but I doubt they have much to do with the so called "rat run". A lot of the come miles so I don't think it would be practical for them to to walk
Originally posted by 2929paul
How often do we say on this forum: "I blame the parents" You lazy sods in your cars should kick the kids into the streets and make them walk. Then I could have a quiet life in lower bengeo.
Reply ID 38722
Tuesday 17th April. State Schools back. Port Hill no queue..
Reply ID 38726
quote:Similarly, Byde Street was clear.
Originally posted by Arty
Tuesday 17th April. State Schools back. Port Hill no queue..
Reply ID 38732
Duncombe is back tomorrow officially but there were a lot of people in today as well, new pupils etc I think..............
Reply ID 38788
Q.E.D.
Reply ID 38791
Back to the usual chaos I presume ????