TTC and/or School Board I think should reconsider its rules for busing

[AmberMoon]

EDIT - I guess my rant should be directed at the school board more then TTC itself, But in the end its our taxes that pay for our children's education and safety and part of the transit systems.


Yesterday my daughter comes home late from school and precedes to tell me that upon paying $1 ( didn't have correct change) onto the bus after school to come home the bus driver told her she was not a child and couldn't ride. She was not allowed to have her $1 back either and the bus driver made her walk home. Usually we have tickets but I forgot to give her money to get them over the weekend.

Anyways we come to find out that she was suppose to be considered a kid not a child (12 and under) as she is 13. We did not know this and have just been buying the same tickets we always bought. Now the price goes up to almost $15 for her to go to and from school daily vs the $5 it was.

Now my ***** is why should children have to pay so much to go to and from school, I could see and understand if it was them playing around and going to the mall ect. School is important and since school buses aren't provided to children they should really consider either allowing students who are in school to ride free or cut the cost to something reasonable like the $5 a week for the child ticket.

It just boggles my mind that they think its ok for our kids to walk to school in the dark or in a blizzard or rain because they cant afford to take the bus daily to and from school. Personally i think any child riding the bus to or from school only should be given a free ride. If its a issue then charge a set fee for all students during arriving / departing times of schools. ( 8am -9am / 2pm-3pm) with a school pass. On a side note I will pay for her to ride the bus, but its not done so in happinesses

How do you feel about this, do you think children should have to pay to be bussed to school?

ADDED

According to the Ontario School Bus Association

Ministry of Transportation (Ontario)

Once a school bus is in operation, the Ministry of Transportation of Ontario (MTO) is responsible for establishing the rules and regulations pertaining to vehicles, driver qualifications and licensing, and vehicle inspections through the Highway Traffic Act. MTO also regulates the deployment of safety equipment unique to school buses, such as the stop arm and overhead flashing lights.

Ministry of Education

The Ontario Ministry of Education (MED) provides a grant to school boards for the purchase of student transportation services. However, the decision regarding how transportation is provided rests with individual school boards.

School Boards

In Ontario, school boards are not required to provide transportation services. Transportation is therefore a privilege and not a right. It is the responsibility of each individual school board to develop and maintain a set of transportation policies, including safety provisions. School boards determine and contract for the transportation services that will be provided to their students. Only a few boards choose to own and operate their own buses.
School board transportation officials administer and monitor transportation policies as authorized by their employers.

They generally determine the appropriate bus routes and act as liaison between the school board, parents, government, school bus companies, enforcement agencies, and the public. Find a school board at

[KorruptioN]

Unfortunately, not a lot of things are ever completely "free" anymore. I do know that my younger cousin in Maple who gets bussed to school (big yellow school buses) needs to pay a significant amount for the service. Doing the math, it works out to about as much as the student fare for the TTC.

[gilboman]

Now my ***** is why should children have to pay so much to go to and from school, I could see and understand if it was them playing around and going to the mall ect. School is important and since school buses aren't provided to children they should really consider either allowing students who are in school to ride free or cut the cost to something reasonable like the $5 a week for the child ticket.

It just boggles my mind that they think its ok for our kids to walk to school in the dark or in a blizzard or rain because they cant afford to take the bus daily to and from school. Personally i think any child riding the bus to or from school only should be given a free ride. If its a issue then charge a set fee for all students during arriving / departing times of schools. ( 8am -9am / 2pm-3pm) with a school pass. On a side note I will pay for her to ride the bus, but its not done so in happinesses

How do you feel about this, do you think children should have to pay to be bussed to school?

Why shouldnt children have to pay? Students already have discounted fare already, first you want free/heavily subsidized transportation, what's next? free meals and free clothes?

if you have a kid, you should be able to afford to bus them to school, why would you expect somebody else to pick up the tab to send your kid to school? but if you really can't afford to feed your kid or bus them to school, you can talk to your school and other social agencies and they'll spare you some change to feed your kid and send them to school.

unbelieveable.

[boxingday]

Yesterday my daughter comes home late from school and precedes to tell me that upon paying $1 ( didnt have correct change) onto the bus after school to come home the bus driver told her she was not a child and couldn't ride. She was not allowed to have her $1 back either and the bus driver made her walk home. Usually we have tickets but I forgot to give her money to get them over the weekend.

Anyways we come to find out that she was suppose to be considered a kid not a child (12 and under) as she is 13. We did not know this and have just been buying the same tickets we always bought. Now the price goes up to almost $15 for her to go to and from school daily vs the $5 it was.

Now my ***** is why should children have to pay so much to go to and from school, I could see and understand if it was them playing around and going to the mall ect. School is important and since school buses aren't provided to children they should really consider either allowing students who are in school to ride free or cut the cost to something reasonable like the $5 a week for the child ticket.

It just boggles my mind that they think its ok for our kids to walk to school in the dark or in a blizzard or rain because they cant afford to take the bus daily to and from school. Personally i think any child riding the bus to or from school only should be given a free ride. If its a issue then charge a set fee for all students during arriving / departing times of schools. ( 8am -9am / 2pm-3pm) with a school pass. On a side note I will pay for her to ride the bus, but its not done so in happinesses

How do you feel about this, do you think children should have to pay to be bussed to school?

1)Why should people have to pay when they take the bus to work.If there going to give a break it has to be to everyone.

2)As for walking to school its good for them.

3)When i was in high school the school gave everyone who needed it a free bus pass.

[AmberMoon]

Why shouldnt children have to pay? Students already have discounted fare already, first you want free/heavily subsidized transportation, what's next? free meals and free clothes?

if you have a kid, you should be able to afford to bus them to school, why would you expect somebody else to pick up the tab to send your kid to school? but if you really can't afford to feed your kid or bus them to school, you can talk to your school and other social agencies and they'll spare you some change to feed your kid and send them to school.

unbelieveable.

Actually you are mistaken. The fares are ( according to website)

Child 12 and under .70 cents each way or book of 10 for $5
Kid 13- 19 & Seniors $1.85 each way or 5 tickets $7.50 or 10 for $15
Adult 20++ $2.75 each way or 5 tickets for $11.25/ 10 for $22.50

There is a student discount card for certain area's (the School is located in the City of Toronto or the Regions of York, Peel, Halton or Durham; or (b) the student's primary residence is located in the City of Toronto.) and for children who are just turning 13 according to the site.


As for Free/heavily subsidized transportation, its more along the lines of the taxes we pay should provide a safe schooling structure. Yellow school buses should be provided if your children do not live right around the corner from the school or the TTC should accommodate those children to help them get to and from school safe. Do I feel that adults should have this luxury no but these are children and having them walk in the pouring rain or a snow storm is the least of any parents worries when they are walking home.

As for the free meal/clothes since you bring it up I would actually like to see subsidized lunches for those kids who cant afford it, there are kids out there who's parents can barley live paycheck to paycheck or are on welfare to say the least who's children are suffering in school because they don't eat. If the school provided a balanced hot meal for students they might actually do better in school. I think Canada is behind the times on taking better care of their future with these kids. Do all kids need free meals NO but the ones who's families make very little money should be able to apply for these hot lunches ( out of 4 schools my daughter has attended only 1 had a cafeteria)

I do agree with you that if you are planning to have children that you should have the knowledge to know whether or not you can afford to properly take care of your children but lets get real thats not reality. The people who pick up the tab for our children is the tax payers which my family is. Part of our taxes goes to the schooling of our children so believing that transportation buses to school be provided to children is not a understatement.

I'm assuming you have no children from your very stern reply, but I think that children should be protected and when its required that our children must attend schooling that transportation and a hot meal while there is not unreasonable. Free for those who are unable to afford it and a reasonable price for those who can.

Anyways this was my opinion and this is all kids not just my own, its more about making sure our kids are taken care of while in school and making sure they arrive to and from school protected.

1)Why should people have to pay when they take the bus to work.If there going to give a break it has to be to everyone.

Because going to work you get paid to go, your children are required by law to go to school and get no type of compesation to pay for that requirement if you use that type of logic

2)As for walking to school its good for them.

Couldnt agree more but you think its safe for say a 8 year old to walk to school alone at 7:30am? ( example) Or your 10 year old to struggle to get to school in the fresh downfall of snow that has buried cars in? During the warm months kids usually walk unless its raining or something bad but winter is a different factor

3)When i was in high school the school gave everyone who needed it a free bus pass.

Where I was raised all 12 years of schooling was bused unless you lived within walking distance, and a hot meal could be purchased in the cafeteria for students along with those who needed reduce lunch rates it was offered. Schools since I have grown up have declined drastically yet our taxes keep climbing to pay for a declining system.


On a side note, Please don't get me wrong the TTC is a wonderful resource for everyone and paying to ride it i couldn't agree more but come on these are kids going to school. I don't think that they should be paying normal rates or even paying at all to get a education. But i guess its my opinion to be different

[funkyfr3sh_]

Why shouldnt children have to pay? Students already have discounted fare already, first you want free/heavily subsidized transportation, what's next? free meals and free clothes?

if you have a kid, you should be able to afford to bus them to school, why would you expect somebody else to pick up the tab to send your kid to school? but if you really can't afford to feed your kid or bus them to school, you can talk to your school and other social agencies and they'll spare you some change to feed your kid and send them to school.

unbelieveable.

+ 1

Children should have to pay! Come on, doesn’t matter where your child is going – they are using a service. Either way, a child’s fare is completely reasonable though, but your daughter isn’t a child anymore.

I don’t think your rant should be at the TTC but take it up with your child’s school to further subsidize the cost. It’s not the TTC’s fault there aren’t any school buses.

[Engi-Nir]

Why shouldnt children have to pay? Students already have discounted fare already, first you want free/heavily subsidized transportation, what's next? free meals and free clothes?

if you have a kid, you should be able to afford to bus them to school, why would you expect somebody else to pick up the tab to send your kid to school? but if you really can't afford to feed your kid or bus them to school, you can talk to your school and other social agencies and they'll spare you some change to feed your kid and send them to school.

unbelieveable.

+1...if you can afford to have kids, then you can afford the expenses that comes with having children. who said kids were cheap

[ji2o0k]

I concur that the kid should pay for the TTC ride. Usually it should be the school board that arranges for subsidized fare.

However, the bus driver should have given back the $1. I realize they have those fare collection boxes that you can't open (now why is that? to prevent theft?).

But come on, it is a 13 year old kid. Probably the bus driver thought all kids scam but clearly this case it wasn't.

I am surprised some people sitting at the front didn't offer to cover the extra $0.85.

[AmberMoon]

I don’t think your rant should be at the TTC but take it up with your child’s school to further subsidize the cost. It’s not the TTC’s fault there aren’t any school buses.

Doh!! You are right, It should be at the school board i guess, I just associated it since thats the only method of transportation for students. She is still a child at the age of 13 and has no other means of getting to school besides her feet or TTC buses. I have no problem paying, but I think that TTC and the school board should be able to accommodate these kids.

+1...if you can afford to have kids, then you can afford the expenses that comes with having children. who said kids were cheap

Couldn't agree more but as parents we shouldn't have to be gouged to educate our kids which is required by law, Why is a 12 year old able to get a fee of reasonable amount but as soon as she turns 13 ( even 1 day older) she is paying 3xs the fee to still go to school. I guess its my way of thinking and maybe the vast majority disagrees but I do think that children as long as they are in school should be provided reasonable fares or free busing

However, the bus driver should have given back the $1. I realize they have those fare collection boxes that you can't open (now why is that? to prevent theft?).

But come on, it is a 13 year old kid. Probably the bus driver thought all kids scam but clearly this case it wasn't.

I am surprised some people sitting at the front didn't offer to cover the extra $0.85.

I agree again but they have some type of clause that if you pay and are caught ( lack of a better word) using the wrong type of ticket/token ect you forfeit it and can be removed from the bus. At that time of the day and the bus that she uses there is no one but kids on it coming or going to school it seems since its a subdivision area not a main street. I dont think i have ever seen any more then a dozen people on the bus and of which maybe 2 are adults.

Oh well I guess my thoughts are isolated but i can say Im still not liking the methods of the school board in conjunction with the transits system. Maybe one day it will catch up

[Valek]

Yesterday my daughter comes home late from school and precedes to tell me that upon paying $1 ( didnt have correct change) onto the bus after school to come home the bus driver told her she was not a child and couldn't ride. She was not allowed to have her $1 back either and the bus driver made her walk home. Usually we have tickets but I forgot to give her money to get them over the weekend.

Anyways we come to find out that she was suppose to be considered a kid not a child (12 and under) as she is 13. We did not know this and have just been buying the same tickets we always bought. Now the price goes up to almost $15 for her to go to and from school daily vs the $5 it was.

Now my ***** is why should children have to pay so much to go to and from school, I could see and understand if it was them playing around and going to the mall ect. School is important and since school buses aren't provided to children they should really consider either allowing students who are in school to ride free or cut the cost to something reasonable like the $5 a week for the child ticket.

It just boggles my mind that they think its ok for our kids to walk to school in the dark or in a blizzard or rain because they cant afford to take the bus daily to and from school. Personally i think any child riding the bus to or from school only should be given a free ride. If its a issue then charge a set fee for all students during arriving / departing times of schools. ( 8am -9am / 2pm-3pm) with a school pass. On a side note I will pay for her to ride the bus, but its not done so in happinesses

How do you feel about this, do you think children should have to pay to be bussed to school?

Personally, no I don't think any child should have to PAY to access education, in this case the access is actually a physical transport to and from the institution. However, this isn't the case in real life. It's always been like this.

[weedb0y]

I walked throughout my school years and no I wasn't close enough to the considered walking distance either.

Its just that I took the bus during real bad weather and rest of the days, I just walked. I know my parents were struggling back then (as new immigrants) and even at the age of 10, I knew what I had to do.

Made me what I am today.

[gman]

I concur that the kid should pay for the TTC ride. Usually it should be the school board that arranges for subsidized fare.

However, the bus driver should have given back the $1. I realize they have those fare collection boxes that you can't open (now why is that? to prevent theft?).

But come on, it is a 13 year old kid. Probably the bus driver thought all kids scam but clearly this case it wasn't.

I am surprised some people sitting at the front didn't offer to cover the extra $0.85.

The bus driver cannot give back the $1 because as you said it is in a locked box. Yes, the locked box is to prevent thief. If the bus driver can open it, there is nothing to stop him to steal it. And, as the driver, for the integrity sake, he does not want the possibility to be accused as thief either.

A bus driver cannot easily identify a kid who is 13. He only knows she is not a kid and suspect she is above 12. The girl probably also admitted she is 13.

People in the front and the bus driver probably thought she was scamming. We know it is not the case. It is not necessary clear to the people on that bus. We were not on that bus.

[qster]

Quickest way to resolve all this...

GET RID OF THE UNIONS!

We don't live in the post depression years where employers used to abuse their employees (overwork with little pay) anymore.

Now its the other way around...Overpaid doing little work and union employees complain about everything, hence stiffling production and change for the better.

Why doesn't your child have a TTC student card? Plus she rides the bus everyday so she should know the rates at 13.

[gman]

Quickest way to resolve all this...

GET RID OF THE UNIONS!

We don't live in the post depression years where employers used to abuse their employees (overwork with little pay) anymore.

Now its the other way around...Overpaid doing little work and union employees complain about everything, hence stiffling production and change for the better.

Why doesn't your child have a TTC student card? Plus she rides the bus everyday so she should know the rates at 13.

I personally do not like unions too but what does this have anything to do with union?

[qster]

I personally do not like unions too but what does this have anything to do with union?

The driver wouldn't have kicked the kid off the bus, if the driver didn't have a union to back him up. The driver would be a lot nicer as paying customers could file a complaint (get enough of them and the driver may lose his/her job), hence there would be better customer service.