Bus Issue Again

My 4yo rides a bus to and from school 5 days a week and attends school for 2.5 hours a day. I read some past posts and read that a child can be on the bus one way for 90 minutes. I found out today from the driver that another student will be added to the route, and my DS should be ready earlier.

He spends about an hour each way. Does it make sense that he is on the bus for 2 hours for a 2.5 hour program? I have complained the first time the bus route was changed, and nothing changed. Not sure what to do so I can use any advice, but I have to add that I am unable to transport him to/from school and don't have anyone else that can either.


TIA

Bus Issue Again

Can you find a different school? If this is the only option, I think you might just have to deal with the schedule. 1hr each way is a long time for a child.

Re: Bus Issue Again

This school is the closest to me and supposedly has a good reputation. Everytime they add a new student to the route, my son gets picked up earlier/dropped off later. At first, he left an hour before and came home after 30-40 minutes. Just frustrated!

Re: Bus Issue Again

Can you check with the district? I thought they couldn't be on the bus longer than an hour each way.

Re: Bus Issue Again

My DS doesn't take the bus since I ended up driving him, but when I was looking into it, they said legally they could be on the bus 90 min each way.

ETA I just saw you wrote 2 hours... that is excessive and I think you could say something.

Message edited 12/11/2014 9:48:33 AM.

Re: Bus Issue Again

My DS has been riding the bus since 2 y.o. At that age, he was on the bus for about 45 minutes in the morning and an hour in the afternoon. Sometimes the afternoon was longer because he was bussed to daycare, which was further from the school than our house.

The way I saw it was that I loved the school program and didn't want him to leave the school. He liked riding the bus. For me, it was worth it for him to be on the bus a little longer if it meant he could go to that school. I think it's rare that for the preschool kids to be on the bus less than 30 minutes, unless you live really close to the school or are always the last one picked up. I don't think you have much say over the bus schedule if he's on the bus for about an hour.

I did research this a while ago and I don't think there is any law regarding this. I believe local jurisdictions (county or school district) can set their own guidelines, but I don't think there is an official law on the books, statewide.

Re: Bus Issue Again

Thank you everyone for responding. The school (outside my school district) and my school district do not handle scheduling and do not want to be involved. The bus companies are contracted by the county.

There is not a law about this. I did read that a child can be on the bus for up to 90 minutes, but not sure if that meant a regular school day, usually 6+ hours. I feel like he is in school half a day and on a bus half a day.

I am writing a letter to the bus company. I would like a written response. The first time I complained, I was given a condescending response, which I won't get into on here. I will try to update!

Bus Issue Again

which bus company? we've been dealing with bus rides for 7 years now. private school is about 30 minutes away. his ride is never under 45 minutes, and for a whle this year was 2 hours each way. we raised hell over it, and it took us 7 weeks of threatening the bus company and the school district before we got it down to an hour in the morning and an hour and 15 in the afternoon. if the bus is a combined run from multiple districts its going to be hard to shorten it. honestly, and hour each way isn't that bad. even when my son was in a school 15 minutes from our house we never went under 45 minutes each way on the bus. is it a long time compared to the length of the day, yes, but its not outlandish for busing that is not to a local public school. and according to NYS there is no actual time limit for a child to be a on bus. 90 is suggested, but its not a requirment to be under that either. believe me, i've done every bit of research on this since my son was spending more time in transit to school than my husband did commuting into the city. and he's only 11 now. Also you're better off going to the district than the bus company directly. our bus company flat out lies to my face. then again they lied to the asst. superintendent too. i wouldn't trust someone from dispatch at a bus company ever. PM if you want more details.