Unreliable bus

Toxick

Toxick

Splat
So for the second time in a week, my kids' bus doesn't show up.

Last time the bus showed up at 9:10 - that's 10 minutes after school starts. Today, as I write this, they just told me "the bus is on the way".

This bus totally sucks to begin with. It usually shows up anywhere between 8:20 and 8:45 (ya never know when exactly), and you never know which bus number will be stopping by. And now it's not showing up until my kids are supposed to be at their desks getting their educations.

So I called up department of Trasportation, and they tell me "the bus is on the way!" - in a tone that says I'm supposed to be happy about this. I tell them I registered a complaint last week and it's happened AGAIN.

"Well it's a substitute driver again today"
"That's not my problem. I want to know what's going to be done about this"
"Your concerned is being entered into the system".


I would rather something be done than have a complaint logged into the system, which I assume is very much like filing my complaint in the 'circular file'.

Anyone else have this problem? Is there anything I can do? I told the person on the phone that if this happens again, I'm coming down there in person, and it's going to be a most unpleasant visit. I would rather have something happen before I go make a scene.
 
Toxick

Toxick

Splat
elaine said:
Are you staying home with this child and waiting for the bus, or is this a latch key kid?
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Neither. But what difference does it make? I was wondering if anyone had a success story dealing with the DOT, because so far I'm getting bupkis.
 
WitchyWoman79

WitchyWoman79

Witchy
What bus number is this? I have heard lots of troubles with buses in CRE this year. We have a bus that makes a complete U turn in the middle of a major street 3 times a day with children on the bus I dont think that seems safe.
 
Toxick

Toxick

Splat
elaine said:
I guess the difference is, the more information a person has about a given subject, the more one could help, but that's just me.
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Well, I have the car, and I leave before the kids wake up. My wife gets them ready for the bus. She doesn't have a car at this point because it's in my parking lot, here. I work too far away to just 'shoot home' and take them to school.

And thanks wineo, I'll call that number and see what happens. Hopefully more will happen than calling the actual Department of Transportation.
 
mAlice

mAlice

professional daydreamer
Toxick said:
Well, I have the car, and I leave before the kids wake up. My wife gets them ready for the bus. She doesn't have a car at this point because it's in my parking lot, here. I work too far away to just 'shoot home' and take them to school.
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Do you have a neighbor that drives their kids to school? Maybe you could offer to supplement gas money if they could help out? Or maybe buy a second car? Doesn't have to be anything great, just something more reliable than the bus.
 
MMDad

MMDad

Lem Putt
Toxick said:
Well, I have the car, and I leave before the kids wake up. My wife gets them ready for the bus. She doesn't have a car at this point because it's in my parking lot, here. I work too far away to just 'shoot home' and take them to school.

And thanks wineo, I'll call that number and see what happens. Hopefully more will happen than calling the actual Department of Transportation.
Click to expand...

Aren't you in Calvert now? I don't think that St. Mary's county will help much.

Maybe a chat with the principal. Let her (I assume PES and/or AES?) know that you're concerned that your kids are interrupting the school day by being late due to the bus, and that you have gotten a less than positive response. Sometimes pressure from within the organization can do wonders.

As a taxpayer, you do have a right to expect that the bus will show up on time, and that when there is a problem it will be dealt with appropriately. It sucks to deal with the bureaucracy that some of these desk jockeys exude.
 
Toxick

Toxick

Splat
elaine said:
Do you have a neighbor that drives their kids to school? Maybe you could offer to supplement gas money if they could help out? Or maybe buy a second car? Doesn't have to be anything great, just something more reliable than the bus.
Click to expand...



Wonderful ideas, all. They were good ideas when I thought of them, before I brought this topic up here. We're currently working on getting a second car.


In the meantime, however, I'm paying taxes which pays the DOT. So, I don't think it's unreasonable to expect expect a school bus to be there in time to get them to school - and nobody that I've talked to on the telephone has expressed any interest more than: "Well, I don't know what to tell you. I'll file your complaint".

It's very frustrating.
 
Toxick

Toxick

Splat
MMDad said:
Maybe a chat with the principal. Let her (I assume PES and/or AES?) know that you're concerned that your kids are interrupting the school day by being late due to the bus, and that you have gotten a less than positive response. Sometimes pressure from within the organization can do wonders.
Click to expand...

Well, I've called the school twice, and both times they've directed me to the Department of Transportation.

I don't think the school is very interested in my problem.


MMDad said:
As a taxpayer, you do have a right to expect that the bus will show up on time, and that when there is a problem it will be dealt with appropriately. It sucks to deal with the bureaucracy that some of these desk jockeys exude.
Click to expand...

Amen.
 
V

vbailey

vbailey
I would find out who the contractor is for that bus, maybe if you spoke to the contractor and let them know ( Iam sure they probley know there is a problem, but the more they hear about it might help ) they may need to get a better more relaiable driver.
 
Toxick

Toxick

Splat
Well, I've been in touch with the school. They said usually don't get involved with the busses, and the Principal is out until Wednesday, but the person I talked to said that the principal might get involved because students are actually being adversely affected.

They also gave me a number so I could go over the heads of the people I talked to this morning. Which I fully intend to do.

Further bulletins as events warrent.
 
CandaceMM

CandaceMM

Ummmmm ....
Toxick said:
I don't think the school is very interested in my problem.
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The damn school should be interested in your problem. It's affecting their students and their parents. I'd recommend a letter writing campaign. Write a letter to the teacher, the principal, the DOT and the Board of Education.

Anytime that I've had a problem and do not receive help, I always write letters and send them off. Once a problem has been documented in writing, they can't ignore it. Write one letter and CC everyone else in on it.

I bet that would get the DOT's attention.

Good luck and let us know how it goes.
 
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