Apr 18 2008
Parents can literally not just reduce the family's carbon footprint but figuratively "move to an entirely smaller shoe size" by simply insisting that their teenagers take a school bus rather than drive themselves to school, according to the National Association for Pupil Transportation (NAPT).
According to NAPT Executive Director Michael Martin, "For families thinking seriously about reducing their carbon footprints, school buses are the low-hanging fruit. Taking a school bus even just once a week reduces the impact high school students have on the environment. It's also the safest way for children to get to and from school."
"Earth Week should be a time for introspection and focus on lifestyle changes that can make a difference environmentally. While using mass transit typically is high on most lists to help save the planet, taking a yellow school bus often is easier than other forms of transit since it's available in every community and convenient," Martin said.
"Here's still another 'inconvenient truth' not included in former Vice President Al Gore's book by the same name: In many communities school buses are underutilized while roads are clogged with teenagers driving to school. If more high school students used the school bus there would be environmental, safety and reduced traffic congestion benefits for the entire community," he said. "And, teens could pocket a lot of gas money to spend on other things."
Martin pointed out that ironically California -- the state most renowned for its environmental laws -- has by far the lowest school bus ridership in the nation. "Many California parents probably aren't aware that by not insisting that their children use school buses they're missing one of the easiest ways to be environmentally responsible," Martin said.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), some 600 children are killed every year getting to school by some means other than a big yellow school bus. "Not even walking or riding a bicycle are safer, and teenagers driving themselves and riding with friends has the most risk," Martin said.