On 2014-09-07 9:22 AM, Nancy Young wrote:
> On 9/7/2014 8:20 AM, Dave Smith wrote:
>> On 2014-09-07 8:06 AM, Nancy Young wrote:
>
>>> Just a couple of days ago, I noticed school was back in session
>>> because all the parents were waiting for the bus with their kids.
>>> I thought to myself, poor kids are never left with a moment to
>>> themselves any more.
>>
>> My next door neighbour used to drive her kids to catch the school bus.
>> The bus stopped at the end of their driveway, which is about 120 yards.
>> They were in high school at the time. It is little wonder that the older
>> son was being bullied at school... by the girls.
>
> I've seen that, too, people drive five houses down to pick up
> their kid from the stop. I don't want to be all When I was a kid,
> snow, uphill blah blah but it's just strange to me.
>

If you ever find yourself crazy enough to want to be exposed to total
frustration, try following some of our local school buses. There is on
particular road which is relatively well used. It is hilly and winding
so there are no many places to pass safely. The flashing lights come
one well in advance of the stop. Then it stops, door opens and stop arm
goes out. You can down the length of the bus and there is no movement.
Finally some kid stands up, talks to his friends some more and
eventually starts walking to the front. Door closes, stop arm comes in,
bus moves to the second driveway down the road and it happens all over
again.

Similarly on the morning runs that I occasionally get stuck behind. The
bus stops and sits there for a minute or two. Eventually the front door
of the house opens and a kid walks slowly down the driveway.

If I ran the world the morning bus would stop only if the kid was
standing out there waiting, and that would be a common stop for several
kids, not three stops in 200 yards. The afternoon bus would stop, open
the doors and kids would have about 30 seconds to get off. Otherwise,
they end up back at the school or bus depot and parents can come and
pick them up.