Dreaded Car Line...

JMay

Am I the only one who thinks this "car line" system is fatally flawed?  It's our first year (Kindergarten) and really, car line is a mess.  I have to give DD breakfast in the car just so we can get into the car line early enough that we won't be late (last week, I cut it close by only being at school 25 minutes before the bell rang.  Because I was trapped in car line, my DD was late!!!)  For pickup, I have to get to school an hour before the dismissal bell to get a decent spot in line, otherwise DD has to wait outside for 30 minutes for me to pull up.  I've tried being there just 45 minutes early, and already the car line is wrapped around the building.  Seriously, I'm supposed to spend 1-2 hours a day sitting in my car?  Wasting time, killing the environment with exhaust???  (Listening to NPR though, so that's not too bad...)  Ugh.  Not loving the car line.  Any one else?

KKMMex

Our elementary school has a huge enrollment.  It's a K - 6 school, so the car line is hellish.  I carpool with my next door neighbor and we alternate weeks. One week she takes the kids to school in the morning and I pick up in the afternoons, then the next week we switch it.

Last week I waited an hour or more each day to pick up in the afternoons and by the end of the week I needed to be checked into the mental ward.   We've had horrendous triple digit temperatures here in Texas and it's made things so much worse.  I'm praying it's more pleasant in another month or so.  We may switch them to walkers in the afternoons once the weather cools.  Our morning car line moves so much more quickly than the afternoon one. 

Our carpool group consists of kinders and 1st graders.  When they're older they can ride their bikes, but for right now it would be very hard for me to get four very young bike riders down the sidewalk safely, given the sheer number of bike riders in the afternoons.  Most of the other kids riding bikes home are much older children riding very fast.  I would just be a nervous wreck that one of my kids would fall off their bikes and hurt themselves.

Yes, I hate car line too.  I wish our school encouraged carpooling by making a separate line for carpoolers, but so far they haven't.

MrsBalletStar05

I park the car on a residential street, grab my kid and walk back to the car.  It's a thousand times faster than waiting in the car line. 

KKMMex

MrsBalletStar05:

I park the car on a residential street, grab my kid and walk back to the car.  It's a thousand times faster than waiting in the car line. 

I would love to do this!  Our school expressly stated they do not want parents doing this.  I've heard they're considering putting district police cars in the surrounding neighborhoods to prevent it, because they feel if a lot of parents do it the flow of foot, bike and car traffic will be disrupted. I feel like the school has us over a barrel. 

Just found out today that carpools will now have a designated "cone" to go to for pick up.  Thank goodness for small miracles!

L D

Our school is smallish and it is horrible in the afternoon!  Its not as bad in the morning because more kids ride the bus in the morning and then are pickups in the afternoon.  My kids are opposite just so I dont have to battle the horrible car line.  Also, Kindy kids are not allowed to just "walk out" without a parent so I couldnt even if I wanted to.  I have to walk in to the lobby to get the girls.  I have not driven by to see when the 1st car in line gets there.  I was there 45mns early the first day and it was already 15cars long.  I parked in the tiny parking lot since I had to walk in.  There has been a fender bender every day this week (1st week) in the small parking lot.  Yet another reason I will not pick my kids up. 

 

BeachBum73

I did the car line for two days and decided that my dd will now be a "walker".  I park the car, pick her up and I'm out of there in 10-15 minutes.  Some mornings I'm able to miss the rush and I got through the car line in 5 minutes.  An hour - two hours sitting in line is ridiculous.

MrsBalletStar05

KKMMex:

MrsBalletStar05:

I park the car on a residential street, grab my kid and walk back to the car.  It's a thousand times faster than waiting in the car line. 

I would love to do this!  Our school expressly stated they do not want parents doing this.  I've heard they're considering putting district police cars in the surrounding neighborhoods to prevent it, because they feel if a lot of parents do it the flow of foot, bike and car traffic will be disrupted. I feel like the school has us over a barrel. 

Just found out today that carpools will now have a designated "cone" to go to for pick up.  Thank goodness for small miracles!

That sounds extreme.  The school won't let you park on a public street meant for...the public?  Surely the police cannot be bothered with an elementary school's pick up line every single day, what a waste.  I mean, my school has never said you can't do this - I figure, for all they know, I'm walking my kid to and from school from my home.  I drive in and out of the side streets and completely stay out of the street the pick-up line is on.  I dunno, that just seems weird to me. 

DandelionMom

This whole post is making me very grateful for our schools' large parking lots!  What do you all do for open house or event parking? 

EastCoastBride

KKMMex:

I've heard they're considering putting district police cars in the surrounding neighborhoods to prevent it, because they feel if a lot of parents do it the flow of foot, bike and car traffic will be disrupted. I feel like the school has us over a barrel. 

I would raise bloody hell if my school did this OR if the police agreed to it.  What a phenominal waste of resources. 

But I have to ask... why do so many parents need to drop off/ pick up their kids?  Is it that people don't want to use the buses?

Cristine

We did car line when my oldest was in kindergarten. I thought it would be quicker since we wouldn't have to wait for the bus. Drop offs were quick but it took forever in the afternoon. Now we just pick up and drop off at the bus stop. It's so much easier.