[newphase]

Does anyone elses children (High school age) travel 1hr or more (yikes) to get to school each day... one way?
If so do you, or someone else drive them or is it via publc transport.
And what is the reason the the length of travelling involved??

TIA

[qak]

I have spoken to a boy at my local train station who travels 1.5 hours each way (to James Ruse Ag at Carlingford NSW).

It is probably the best school in the State (selective of the selectives), but I would not have my child travel that far every day.

[Chelli]

My high school DD used to travel by bus for 1/2 hour each way every day, but since she changed schools, she is now just a 5min drive or a 20min walk. Much better

[countrymel]

I used to spend over an hour on the cruddy school bus to get to my high school, then over an hour to get home. That was at least 10 hours every week, on a bus full of high school students... it was horrid.

Eventually I switched to the local high school, took me 20 minutes to walk home (longer obviously if I stopped off for a swim!)

DP's school travel time was even longer.

We have both agreed any child of ours will be going to a school within cycling distance if possible.

[Lalala4]

I was gobsmacked to find out that our 'local' high school will be a 50 minute one-way bus trip (two buses). Apparently that's what we'll be doing with our child when he's in year 7, because northern Sydney doesn't have enough comprehensive high schools and we can't afford private. The 'catchment' is that far away. The alternative is we add to the car traffic. (I've joined our primary school P&C and we're trying to change the situation, but still -- incredible.)

[toosenuf]

Both DDs go to a public high school that is not in our Zone.

DH drive them to our local Station (1st station), from there 10 min ride to 2nd station, then a public bus to the closest bus stop to school then a 1/2 km walk to school, if all goes well and everything is on time they walk into school just as or just after the bell goes at 8.15am. the alternative was surprisingly less desirable and not really safe and just as complicated as below.

Coming home they catch a school bus the 2nd station mentioned above and i drive there to collect them. The alternative was either they leave 10-15mins early everyday to walk to the schools local station (station number 3) and i meet them at the our local station (1st station) or they catch a school bus to the school closest main station (station 4) wait 45mins for next train and by the time they walk in the door it would take them 1.5 hours to get home.

If we were to rely completely on the public transport it would take them close to 1.5 each way.

when i went to HS i cant remember exactly how long it took each way, quite possibly close to 1.5hrs, but i remember catching 2 buses and a train every morning and afternoon, i found it very draining.

[Malaya]

It's certainly not uncommon. In sydney anyway. I did it as a kid and the vast majority of kids I know did as well.
No ill effect. We had a ball on public transport.

[fairyflossfart]

Eldest DD travelled 15mins by bus. The others have all walked 5mins to school.
We also have,
1 private school 20mins walk 5mins by bus(bus & walk routes are different)
1 private school 5mins by bus
2 other high schools within 20mins walk


This post has been edited by fairyflossfart: 17/05/2013, 09:45 AM

[TiredbutHappy]

I worked with a guy whose son used to travel to Sydney to school every day (they live on the Central Coast). Apparently they used to live in Sydney, but the son decided not to change schools when they moved North. It's a 90 minute commute each way.

[sophiasmum]

I wouldn't want my children to be doing that sort of travel each day for high school. And no I would not drive them. I think 1/2 hr would be the limit for us, via public transport.