School Transport Route Review 2020

It has been a challenging year on the buses with the constantly evolving changes and adaptations due to covid-19 and this has delayed many reviews and processes that were to happen this year. The route review will still be occurring but with the timeframes pushed out to suit the current situation. More will follow on this soon.

East Belt

There are now markings on the pavement of East Belt to indicate the safe walking zone for students on the pavement. These setback zones indicate where students can safely walk (about 60 cm from the curb) to keep them safe from the turning circles of school buses at drop off and collection times.

Disabled Car Parking

There are some disabled car parks at the school in the gym car park, can you please not use these unless you have a disabled tag as several of our families with disabled students are struggling to find places to park to collect their students as these spaces are being used by non disabled drivers.

Late Start Wednesday

There will be a slight adjustment to the morning bus times on Wednesday morning from the start of Term 4. Buses have been running one hour later than the normal run times; this will now be 1 hour and 15 minutes later than the normal bus run morning times. Other times are not affected.

Safe Loading and Unloading of Buses

Some of our bus drivers have commented on some parents waiting on the wrong side of the road to collect students obliging the students to cross the road to get to the car. It is recommended that parents wait on the same side of the road as the bus stops to keep our students safe. Students should also never cross in front of the school bus and should always wait until the bus has left before they cross the road.

Speed Passing School Buses

Please note you are only allowed to pass a school bus on the side of the road at a maximum of 20 km/h. We have had several reports of cars, even some containing parents going to collect students from the bus, passing the bus at dangerous speeds well above the 20 km/h requested. This rule is true for all drivers on NZ roads and the NZ Police are committed to help us make the roads safe for our tamariki.

Bus Rules

We have had most of these forms completed and returned to school from the majority of our students, there will be one last email reminder coming out shortly for anyone for whom we do not have a copy of the bus rules on file. If this comes to you please get this back to us as soon as you can. Thank you.

Have a lovely week

Lesley Elms

Bus Controller