|
There are of course many ways of getting to school. This of course depends on where the children live, their age, and the available travel options. They are varied in the major cities, but more limnited in rural areas. Options include walking, bikes, busses, subways, trains, and private cars. Options include walking, bikes, busses, subways, trains, and private cars. A few day children are lucky to live close enough to school that they can walk or ride their bikes. Here they have yo live fairly close to the school. In the case of most private schools this is usually only a small number of the children.
Riding bikes to school used to be very common. This has become much less common in recent years. A major factor here has been the increase in traffic. Many more families have cars now and road traffic is much more heavy than it used to be. Thus it is not as safe as it used to be. Some children, however, do still ride their bikes. This is most common in suburban schools. At many day schools the children come by train or busses. Many boarding schools have a school bus. Some boys rode the regular municipal busses, but this was mostly the children in the London and other big city day schools. In most cities the municipal bys companies put on special runs for school children. Of course in London the Tube or Subway is used by many children to get to school. This is mostly boys attending state secondary scools or private schools. Children attending primary dschools generally live near their schools and can walk to school. The Subway is quick and efficient and in London faster than cars and busses. It used to be qquite inexpensive, but during the 1980s the fsares went up quite a bit. Stations scattered all over London and into the suburnbs making it possibld o go just about anuwhere in London. Train transport is much more developed in Britain than in the United States. Each of the major cities have extensive commuter sevice into the suburbs. Quite a few children thus use the trains to go to and from school. Also many parents drop off the children by car.
A few day children are lucky to live close enough to school that they can walk or ride their bikes. Here they have to live fairly close to the school. In the case of most private schools this is usually only a small number of the children. Most children iattending private schools are day pupils. This has varied over time. The percentage steadily increased during the late-20th century. In the waely 21st century an estimated 85 percent of private scholl children attended day schools. They come from a wider geographical area than those at state schools. The children at private schools Sometimes live as far as 15-20 miles from their school. This caries widely. Children in densly bpopulated urban areas where there are more schools tend to live closer to school. Children in areas with fuller schools may live further. This all makes it difficult for the children to walk to school as is veet common in the state sector. There are, however, almost always at least some children at day schools who walk to and from school.
Riding bikes to school used to be very common. This has become much less common in recent years. A majorfactor here has been the increase in traffic. Many more families have cars now and road traffic is much more heavy than it used to ne. Thus it is not as safe as it used to be. Some children, however, do still ride their bikes. This is most common in suburban schools. Children riding bikes can travel further than those walking. The same dynamic, hoiwever, that limit walkers also limit bike riders. Many children simply live to far away from the school and biking any distance means that the children would have to get on high-traffic road arteries.
At many day schools the children come by busses. Dat schools are almost always located in cities are developed duburban areas. The suburban locations are often former boarding schools tht converted to day schools as the suburbs engulfed them. As a result iof the location, they normally have access to regular municipal bus service. Many boarding schools have a school bus. Some boys rode the regular municipal busses, but this was mostly the children in the London and other big city day schools. In most cities the municipal bus companies put on special runs just to service the school children.
Of course in London the Tube or Subway is used by many children to get to school. This is mostly boys attending state secondary scools or private schools. Children attending primary schools generally live near their schools and can walk to school. The Subway is quick and efficient and in London faster than cars and busses. It used to be quite inexpensive, but during the 1980s the fares went up quite a bit. Stations scattered all over London and into the suburnbs make it possibld t go just about anywhere in London very quickly.
Train transport is much more developed in Britain than in the United States. Each of the major cities have extensive commuter sevice into the suburbs. Quite a few children thus use the commuter trains to go to and from school. Some boarding school children also use the trains to come to school and go home at each term. This used to be very common, but now much lass so, especilly for the prep school sge children. Parents generally choose schools close to home within easy driving distance and almost all the families have cars which was much less common before World War II. Coming to school by train has the disavantage of all the kit boarders bring to school and come home wsith. This all makes it much easier to use the family car.
Also many parents drop off the children by car. This was especially true of the younger children or families living in areas not well served by public transport. Some parents carpooled if they lived close to each other. Other factors are the family schedule, school location, and whether both parents work. Traffic is terrible in London and other major cities. This complicated driving the children to school. But since the 1970s this has become an increasingly important way fir parents of geting the kids to school.
