The question of how to replace the traditional yellow bus has become an urgent problem for some, and a spark for innovation.

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.

  • SeekPie@lemm.ee
    2·
    3 days ago

    Damn, where I live, 1 hr bus ticket is 1.50€ for non-residents, 1€ for residents and 0.60€ for everyone under 18 and free for kids under 7 and pensioners (also free for families with 4 or more kids) that come every 10-20min (every 10 min in the mornings and after work/school, 20 min at any other time).

    There are also period tickets, like unlimited rides for 30€ per month or 225€ per year (which also have discounts for residents).

      • SeekPie@lemm.ee
        2·
        3 days ago

        Yeah. I’ve never been to the US, so don’t really know how it is there. To me it sounds like you guys have a lot to improve in the public transportation sector.