Summary

School districts across the U.S. are reducing bus services due to driver shortages and shifting transportation responsibilities to families, disproportionately affecting low-income households.

In Chicago, where only 17,000 of 325,000 students are eligible for buses, parents are turning to alternatives like ride-hailing apps.

Startups such as Piggyback Network and HopSkipDrive provide school transportation by connecting parents or contracting directly with districts, offering safety measures like real-time tracking and driver vetting.

Critics warn these solutions don’t fully address systemic inequities, as many families still struggle to afford or access reliable school transportation.

    • njm1314@lemmy.world
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      1 year ago

      Oh just bike to school yeah that’s easy. Because this is a country that’s so very bikable.

            • Rekorse@sh.itjust.works
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              1 year ago

              Well its not going to become safe to walk or bike if everyone abandons the idea entirely. Demand creates solutions.

            • Flying Squid@lemmy.world
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              1 year ago

              The public school my daughter would have to walk or bike to in your scenario would be down rural roads with no sidewalks before sunrise, roads people shoot down at 30 miles above the speed limit, and across a four-lane highway with no traffic lights.

              But it’s nice to know that you’re willing to sacrifice other people’s children for not being “normal kids.”

              (It’s always fascinating to me that some people think everyone lives in a city.)

              • BorgDrone@lemmy.one
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                1 year ago

                It’s always fascinating to me that some people think everyone lives in a city.)

                I grew up in a rural area. I had to cycle to high school every day for 5 years. Regardless of weather. 12 kilometers each way. Not just me, everyone in my school and pretty much every other school in the country. Plenty of kids who had to cycle much farther than me as well.

                • Flying Squid@lemmy.world
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                  1 year ago

                  How many traffic light-free four-lane highways did you have to cross? More or less than zero? How often did cars zip by you in the darkness going 150% the speed limit?

                  Because you ignored those things that I brought up and talked about distance, which I didn’t mention.

                  • BorgDrone@lemmy.one
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                    1 year ago

                    First you’re talking about living in a rural area, then you’re talking about 4 lane highways. Which one is it?

    • 257m@sh.itjust.works
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      1 year ago

      I do that currently do that but I doubt most kids would. Its pretty dangerous because of the bad infastructure.