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Whatever happened to school buses?

Frayed Knot Apr 23 2021 01:24 PM

I suspect they still exist, but a) I'm only assuming that since I see far fewer than I used to and b) when I drive past schools in mid-afternoons these days what I see in the parking lots, and more than occasionally spilling out into the streets, are Dozens of over-sized SUVs each presumably picking up a kid (or maybe two or three) to take them home. I've seen this in elementary schools, middle schools, and high schools. Do school districts no longer provide bus service or do folks just choose to forego it, and when did this become (seemingly) the norm? I grew up in an age when most of the mothers didn't work outside the home and yet I didn't know a single person who got picked up by a car after school (save for the occasional case when you needed to be whisked right off to a doctor's appointment or something). So now, even when both parents working is the norm, there are an awful lot of people to have the time and the motivation to brave jammed roads and parking lots to go fetch junior. And this doesn't even get into whether anyone does something radical like Walking to or from school, something I did for fully half of my school years. I think this nation's childhood obesity/diabetic rates alone rule that right out.

Ceetar Apr 23 2021 01:30 PM Re: Whatever happened to school buses?

We don't have bus service in my town, but I don't have any insight otherwise. I wouldn't be surprised if it's related to our nations preference to fund killing over education. NJ is it's only special case potentially, as nothing's regional, so each small town has it's own school district (and police) so adding in the additional cost of bussing, I guess it's not worth it? Additionally, busses are only going to the kids home. Even if a parent is running over to pick them up, they might be then going to daycare, to after school programs, to grandmas. The bus isn't going to take them there.

nymr83 Apr 23 2021 02:05 PM Re: Whatever happened to school buses?

there is plenty of bussing, especially here in NJ. In this time of covid, many parents, myself included, chose not to use it this year because of the potential for exposure to children in other grades who they are being segregated off from in school due to covid concerns. if a kid tests positive the kids in their class and on their bus may need to stay home pending their own tests. I wouldn't be surprised if it's related to our nations preference to fund killing over education. there are also less buses on the roads because schools are closed, because many public school union teachers are refusing to do their jobs while collecting paychecks from the same taxpayers who now need to find money to pay for other options.

kcmets Apr 23 2021 02:49 PM Re: Whatever happened to school buses?

District-owned bussing here. Big budget controversy, especially since Cuomo closed the nuclear plant and created a school real estate tax crisis.

whippoorwill Apr 23 2021 04:30 PM Re: Whatever happened to school buses?

They are still going strong around here

Frayed Knot Apr 23 2021 05:02 PM Re: Whatever happened to school buses?

And while I'm sure Covid is A factor here, this is also not just something I've just started to notice in the last year. There's a stretch of road near me which has, over a half-mile or so stretch, a HS, a middle school, and an elementary school, and I've learned simply not to go near that road if it's between 2 and 4 PM because often the road itself will be blocked because cars are backed up out of the parking lot in the queue to pick up kids. The HS has a public library across from its parking lot and there's a sign outside saying that the library is NOT a pickup spot for HS kids ... and around that sign are dozens of kids hanging out while waiting to be picked up by mommy (or by somebody). This is not a rich area but nor is it a rough area where there should be trepidation in allowing your kids (of any age) on a bus or from taking the heel-toe express home. I guess what I'm wondering is when, and Why, did the preferred method, or in some cases the dominant method, and for some seemingly the Only method of transporting a 65 pound kid home become sending each individual one his own three ton SUV? And while I acknowledge that I was attending school when the buses were drawn by mule teams, I'll reiterate that never knew a single kid who got dropped off or picked up by car at school.

whippoorwill Apr 23 2021 06:05 PM Re: Whatever happened to school buses?

Absolutely agree but around here so many schools have closed and consolidated that the bus rides for some kids are 90 minutes long. So I guess I don't blame some parents for picking up and dropping off in that case

kcmets Apr 23 2021 06:55 PM Re: Whatever happened to school buses?

90 minutes? That's three hours a day.

whippoorwill Apr 23 2021 06:59 PM Re: Whatever happened to school buses?

Yep. Crazy

DocTee Apr 24 2021 05:20 AM Re: Whatever happened to school buses?

Plenty here in CT-- but most folks (especially in these COVID days) use personal vehicles, especially for pickup in the afternoon

Methead Apr 24 2021 09:27 AM Re: Whatever happened to school buses?

=DocTee post_id=61981 time=1619263239 user_id=85] Plenty here in CT

Yep, we have them all over town every day, but the school district doesn't own them. It's a private corporation called First Student, Inc.

Willets Point Apr 24 2021 10:41 AM Re: Whatever happened to school buses?

My kids elementary school is just down the street so they've always walked to school. I heard the school bus service suffered frequent delays from other parents (not the least because Americans feel it is their birthright to clog the streets with massive SUVs with a single occupant) so many of them drove their kids to school. That of course is just a vicious circle of traffic congestion. I'm always annoyed by the parents who would park their tanks on the sidewalk blocking the way for kids walking to school. Because of COVID my son is literally going to his middle school in person for the first time and will be taking a public transportation bus that has been designated as a school bus which seems to be a weird Boston thing.

Edgy MD Apr 24 2021 10:54 AM Re: Whatever happened to school buses?

Best Songs about Buses [list=1] [*]"Kiss Me on the Bus" [*]"Magic Bus" [*]"Bus Stop" [*]"America" [*]"The Wheels on the Bus" [*]"Thank God and Greyhound" [*]"Does this Bus Stop at 82nd Street?" [*]"You're Crazy for Taking the Bus" [*]"The Double-Dutch Bus" [*]"Another One Rides the Bus" [/list] Honorable Mentions [list] [*]"New York State of Mind" [*]Tie a Yellow Ribbon 'Round the Old Oak Tree" [/list]

Willets Point Apr 24 2021 10:56 AM Re: Whatever happened to school buses?

Missing the cut, "We Like to Party!" https://i2-prod.mirror.co.uk/incoming/article2229571.ece/ALTERNATES/s1200/vengabus.jpg>

Marshmallowmilkshake Apr 24 2021 11:26 AM Re: Whatever happened to school buses?

=Ceetar post_id=61921 time=1619206247 user_id=102] I wouldn't be surprised if it's related to our nations preference to fund killing over education.

Assuming this isn't a serious statement.



We have plenty of buses here. Most are provided by the district, though some districts contract out the service.



I didn't ride a bus until high school. It was awful, because it was back in the day when kids could smoke on the bus. After a little while of this, I'd ride my bike to school instead.

MFS62 Apr 24 2021 11:46 AM Re: Whatever happened to school buses?

=Methead post_id=61998 time=1619278074 user_id=61] =DocTee post_id=61981 time=1619263239 user_id=85] Plenty here in CT

Yep, we have them all over town every day, but the school district doesn't own them. It's a private corporation called First Student, Inc.


Same here. I'm in Northern Fairfield County CT.

Later

Ceetar Apr 24 2021 12:42 PM Re: Whatever happened to school buses?

=Marshmallowmilkshake post_id=62009 time=1619285167 user_id=119] =Ceetar post_id=61921 time=1619206247 user_id=102] I wouldn't be surprised if it's related to our nations preference to fund killing over education.

Assuming this isn't a serious statement.



We have plenty of buses here. Most are provided by the district, though some districts contract out the service.



I didn't ride a bus until high school. It was awful, because it was back in the day when kids could smoke on the bus. After a little while of this, I'd ride my bike to school instead.


why wouldn't it be a serious statement? We spent (HUGE GRAPH SHOWING INCREASE OFF THE CHARTS) on war and teachers often have to buy their own supplies. Maybe a few less tanks and we'd have the money to pay for buses.

Frayed Knot Apr 24 2021 01:03 PM Re: Whatever happened to school buses?

=DocTee post_id=61981 time=1619263239 user_id=85] Plenty here in CT-- but most folks (especially in these COVID days) use personal vehicles, especially for pickup in the afternoon

This is what I'm seeing as well. I didn't really think school buses had all gone away, just that they no longer seemed to be the dominant option

for many even though they are available to most who need them. And while Covid certainly threw a wrench into things over the last year, the

massive number of individual in-person pickups does not seem to be a new phenomenon. I can only guess that 'helicopter' parenting is a big

factor.

Marshmallowmilkshake Apr 24 2021 08:27 PM Re: Whatever happened to school buses?

=Ceetar post_id=62011 time=1619289721 user_id=102] =Marshmallowmilkshake post_id=62009 time=1619285167 user_id=119] =Ceetar post_id=61921 time=1619206247 user_id=102] I wouldn't be surprised if it's related to our nations preference to fund killing over education.

Assuming this isn't a serious statement.



We have plenty of buses here. Most are provided by the district, though some districts contract out the service.



I didn't ride a bus until high school. It was awful, because it was back in the day when kids could smoke on the bus. After a little while of this, I'd ride my bike to school instead.


why wouldn't it be a serious statement? We spent (HUGE GRAPH SHOWING INCREASE OFF THE CHARTS) on war and teachers often have to buy their own supplies. Maybe a few less tanks and we'd have the money to pay for buses.


Well, for starters, the federal government spends money on defense and protection, not war and killing.



Your school budget, however, is funded very largely by local and state taxes, and spending determined by your local school board.



If you are in a school district where teachers complain they have to buy their own supplies, then you have a right -- if not a responsibility -- to question the budget priorities of the local school board members you elected. I'd start by asking why ithey are providing a car to the superintendent, and why that is more important than classroom supplies.



I don't have a problem questioning the spending of the federal government. But to say your teachers are buying classroom supplies because of defense spending is silly.

Ceetar Apr 25 2021 08:22 AM Re: Whatever happened to school buses?

=Marshmallowmilkshake post_id=62053 time=1619317647 user_id=119] Well, for starters, the federal government spends money on defense and protection, not war and killing.

lol, okay.



The argument could go local too, given police budgets. Never run out of tear gas and bullets for protesters, but somehow run out of buses and textbooks.

Marshmallowmilkshake Apr 25 2021 09:08 AM Re: Whatever happened to school buses?

=Ceetar post_id=62062 time=1619360563 user_id=102] =Marshmallowmilkshake post_id=62053 time=1619317647 user_id=119] Well, for starters, the federal government spends money on defense and protection, not war and killing.

lol, okay.



The argument could go local too, given police budgets. Never run out of tear gas and bullets for protesters, but somehow run out of buses and textbooks.


lol, Again, entirely different governments.

Edgy MD Apr 25 2021 11:17 AM Re: Whatever happened to school buses?

Are we really facing the argument that buses are being systematically cut from school expenses in the face of budget shortfalls? Because of military spending? The percentage of students bused to school has been declining since the mid-eighties. The reasons behind this are numerous.

Willets Point Apr 25 2021 02:09 PM Re: Whatever happened to school buses?

Edgy MD wrote: Are we really facing the argument that buses are being systematically cut from school expenses in the face of budget shortfalls? Because of military spending? If you look at it literally as what items are being added and cut from actual government budgets, yes it does look ridiculous. But if you step back from pedantry you could see that metaphorically this is a true statement of what our nation values and how it expressed in budgets from municipal to federal.

Edgy MD Apr 25 2021 02:32 PM Re: Whatever happened to school buses?

I don't think I was being pedantic and I don't think it was meant metaphorically. I simply think the statement compared apples to oranges. But yes, I think our nation's values are askew. In a capitalist system, our dollars chase what we value. As this forum is not a public education forum, but instead follows ballplayers making tens of millions of dollars per year, it's as good an example as any that public education doesn't get the support it deserves. Back in my hometown, knuckleheads are trying to get a teacher fired for allegedly not being supportive enough of police officers with her teaching materials. US military spending is obviously grotesque. US education spending is obviously under-supported, morally and financially. I couldn't begin to argue with either of these two positions. But I don't think an insufficient amount of buses is where that impact is felt. I'm not sure anybody has even presented evidence that there even is a bus deficit. The fleet of US school buses represents the largest fleet of public transit vehicles in the nation. But sure, if you're pushing for a redirect of public money from ICBM production to finance public school teacher training, classroom materials, and staff increases, sign me up. More attractive and creatively used infrastructure would be great also, as well as thoughtful non-politicized reviews of curricula. I'm happy to take moneys from any number of other places too.

whippoorwill Apr 25 2021 02:44 PM Re: Whatever happened to school buses?

Edgy MD wrote: Are we really facing the argument that buses are being systematically cut from school expenses in the face of budget shortfalls? Because of military spending? The percentage of students bused to school has been declining since the mid-eighties. The reasons behind this are numerous. Around here the students have such a long bus ride as I mentioned above because we are the largest school district in the state (insert square mileage here*) and the student population has declined, thus consolidation However, on Park Avenue where I live there are at least six different school buses for elementary, middle school, and high school students The parochial schools (2-3 of them in Lock Haven) use the same buses. We can't figure out why so many buses and they stop at Every Single House with a kid. When I was a kid, (insert curmudgeon icon) we had THREE bus stops in our rather large suburban area and NO buses for elementary school; we all walked *1048 square miles. Yes that's not a misprint

whippoorwill Apr 25 2021 02:53 PM Re: Whatever happened to school buses?

We have two high schools and two middle schools for those 1000 square miles to help you understand the long bus rides :) Not counting the parochial and charter schools

Willets Point Apr 25 2021 02:54 PM Re: Whatever happened to school buses?

Sounds like Edgy and I are in hostile agreement. Whippoorwill, when I was a kid I so wanted a bus that would stop at my house. In my town if you lived farther than 3/4 of a mile from school you'd qualify for a school bus. One year my bus stop was like 8/10 of mile of from my house. So if my school was at my bus stop I could've taken a bus there.

Lefty Specialist Apr 25 2021 02:55 PM Re: Whatever happened to school buses?

Can't swing a dead cat in my town without hitting a school bus. Probably more school buses than dead cats, actually.

Edgy MD Apr 25 2021 03:06 PM Re: Whatever happened to school buses?

Willets Point wrote: Sounds like Edgy and I are in hostile agreement. No hostility, yo prometo.

Ceetar Apr 26 2021 09:23 AM Re: Whatever happened to school buses?

Edgy MD wrote: But sure, if you're pushing for a redirect of public money from ICBM production to finance public school teacher training, classroom materials, and staff increases, sign me up. More attractive and creatively used infrastructure would be great also, as well as thoughtful non-politicized reviews of curricula. I'm happy to take moneys from any number of other places too. Sure. I'm on board. We don't have busses in my town for regular kids, and all I did was speculate that I wouldn't be surprised (using hyperbole) if it's a reflection on our financial priority as a society/nation. If I was the one calling the shots I'd nationalize education, quadruple the budget for it, which could certainly include busses, and make school year round and all day. (I'd also cut back on what 'all day' means to corporate america) I wouldn't fill that space with more civil war discourse though, summer would be town camp, outdoor activities, theater camp, space camp, whatever. Robust and creative classes, and all the stuff most people are sending their kids to anyway because THEY have to work in the summer. But free*.

ashie62 Apr 26 2021 02:59 PM Re: Whatever happened to school buses?

I don't see the high schools kids in school during the summer but this seems like a good goal for the younguns. Repurpose money from Afghanistan.

Fman99 Apr 27 2021 08:50 AM Re: Whatever happened to school buses?

My perpetual grouse with my own children's school district is that they do not provide any late buses home for athletes. Any kid practicing any sport needs a ride home from the school when they're done. This makes me nuts.

The Hot Corner Apr 30 2021 08:42 PM Re: Whatever happened to school buses?

Wow, late buses for students participating in after school activities (Sports, band, detention?). That is something I had never heard of. We had buses back in the dark ages when I went to school, but I had to hitch rides with older guys when I was on the baseball team and too young to drive. There was a lot of car pooling after school for student athletes and band members.

Fman99 Apr 30 2021 08:43 PM Re: Whatever happened to school buses?

The Hot Corner wrote: Wow, late buses for students participating in after school activities (Sports, band, detention?). That is something I had never heard of. We had buses back in the dark ages when I went to school, but I had to hitch rides with older guys when I was on the baseball team and too young to drive. There was a lot of car pooling after school for student athletes and band members. That's what we're doing too. My son is 16 now and hopes to be driving come fall. That'd help.

Benjamin Grimm May 01 2021 10:28 AM Re: Whatever happened to school buses?

My school district, Smithtown, had a late bus back in the 1970s.

Frayed Knot May 01 2021 12:56 PM Re: Whatever happened to school buses?

I remember those from my HS days as well.

Frayed Knot Aug 30 2021 02:56 PM Re: Whatever happened to school buses?

I was reminded of this thread when I happened to walk past an elementary school last Friday around 2PM-ish and saw not just a mass of autos in the school parking lot but a line of them spilling out onto the street 100 yards or so in one direction and maybe twice that in the other ... and they were just sitting, no one seemed to move the entire time I was walking past or on my return trip some ten minutes later. Some poor working schmuck behind the wheel of a cement mixer was stuck in it; I mean I assume he wasn't trying to pull into the school given what he was driving and rather just happened to be on the wrong road at the wrong moment. If I were in his position I'd have been tempted to put that thing in gear and start squashing over- sized SUVs. 'Hah, you think You have a big rig, check this baby out'. Vroom! I just don't get it. I know school buses exist in this area because I've seen them so I'm stumped as to why so many seem to thing that that mess I saw is something that needs to be put up with on a daily basis.

MFS62 Aug 30 2021 03:31 PM Re: Whatever happened to school buses?

Frayed Knot wrote: I know school buses exist in this area because I've seen them so I'm stumped as to why so many seem to thing that that mess I saw is something that needs to be put up with on a daily basis. You say it is an elementary school. The same thing is happening around here. People may not want their kids getting on busses with unvaccinated children, especially if their kids are too young to get the shot. Maybe when the vaccine is available to all children, the parents will let their kids ride on busses again. Later

Frayed Knot Aug 30 2021 03:53 PM Re: Whatever happened to school buses?

Except, as mentioned earlier in this thread, none of this is new in the Covid era. Maybe it's increased some over the last 18 months (I can't tell one way or the other) but it's not merely a recent phenomenon. And I've seen the same thing in middle schools and high schools.

Ceetar Aug 30 2021 06:08 PM Re: Whatever happened to school buses?

we've cut school budgets to bomb more kids in the middle east, mainly. Also buses don't go to daycares, to after care programs. In many cases, they don't go to Grandmas house either. More than ever, both parents are leaving the house in the morning anyway, so planning to drive past school might just be more convenient than taking a bus, and perhaps much much shorter. Obviously new year new procedures make this a mess, but give it three weeks and that line will move pretty quickly. While people sit in their own car listening to their podcasts. Plus in some school districts the bus might not go real close to your house. I definitely know of people that have to drive their kids to the bus stop, but at that point, why bother? Especially if you have to hit two spots. Also there's probably some fear mongering going on. Everyone seems to think the world is more dangerous than it's ever been, despite it being safer, so might not feel the imposition of fetching a kid is worse than leaving them to the unknown bus lineup, bus ride, drop off point.

Marshmallowmilkshake Aug 30 2021 06:21 PM Re: Whatever happened to school buses?

=Ceetar post_id=76014 time=1630368517 user_id=102] we've cut school budgets to bomb more kids in the Middle East, mainly.

Again, as everyone pointed out on the first page of the thread, the federal government does not fund your local schools. Those are locally generated taxes. So no one is cutting a dollar from a school budget to give it to the military.

Frayed Knot Aug 30 2021 06:25 PM Re: Whatever happened to school buses?

=Ceetar post_id=76014 time=1630368517 user_id=102]... but give it three weeks and that line will move pretty quickly.

I haven't seen one move quickly in over three years.

Ceetar Aug 30 2021 06:30 PM Re: Whatever happened to school buses?

we've cut school budgets to bomb more kids in the Middle East, mainly. Again, as everyone pointed out on the first page of the thread, the federal government does not fund your local schools. Those are locally generated taxes. So no one is cutting a dollar from a school budget to give it to the military. link, though this should be obvious. [url]https://www2.ed.gov/about/overview/budget/budget22/summary/22summary.pdf

Ceetar Aug 30 2021 06:32 PM Re: Whatever happened to school buses?

Frayed Knot wrote: =Ceetar post_id=76014 time=1630368517 user_id=102]... but give it three weeks and that line will move pretty quickly. I haven't seen one move quickly in over three years.

Just my anecdotal experience. First two weeks or so are pretty bad, and then things smooth out. Not necessarily 'quickly', but kids understand how to hop out, where to go. Parents know where to go, where to pull up, etc.



It also gets worse when it rains or snows, as more people that normally wait for a bus or walk will instead get driven. Same for the first week it gets cold.

Edgy MD Aug 31 2021 11:52 AM Re: Whatever happened to school buses?

I hit a small local supermarket yestidday and traffic was at a dead stop three blocks away. I tried to see past the jam and apparent there was a school pickup going on. The sidewalks groaned with the volume of schoolkids, each attached to a parent, shoulder to shoulder trying to squeeze past each other. I ditched the car in a parking garage and wove through the throng to get to the store. I can't remember the last time I was a part of that much human density. I really don't know that we'll ever outlast this virus at this rate. The sidewalk was bad enough, but when I remembered actual school corridors used to be like between periods, it was a kick in the head.

Frayed Knot Oct 02 2021 03:58 PM Re: Whatever happened to school buses?

Made the mistake of driving on a road leading past several schools about 2:30-ish earlier this week only to find back-ups in several directions which in turn was affecting traffic at intersections 1/4 mile or so away in several directions so other roads not even connected to the school were now getting jammed up. After cursing myself for not anticipating this I wound up employing a detour or two to avoid the mess but while doing so you know what I saw several of stuck in those lines? ... SCHOOL BUSSES!!!! That's right. The parents of school kids who were lined up for blocks so their kids wouldn't have to sully themselves on a school bus were now preventing those who didn't have SUV/limo service home from mommy or daddy (or a nanny) from getting home because the busses couldn't get to the school.