Category Archives: Bus Route and Timetable

Child Safety at Bus Stops

Today is Day 2 of the new bus route. Thanks for your cooperation to make it run smoothly. The changes have highlighted the need for better child safety at bus stops.

Wait for the bus to depart before crossing the road
With the new route some bus stops have moved across the road. Some children don’t yet know how to cross the road safely. They must stand well clear of the bus and wait for the bus to depart before crossing the road. We strongly recommend that parents take time this week to show their kids how to wait and cross safely at their bus stop.

Parents are responsible for their child’s safety at the bus stop
Ideally parents should be waiting with their younger children at the bus stop in the morning, and waiting at the bus stop for their children in the afternoon. Some parents are happy for their children to cross the road and walk home alone, and some parents run late to meet the bus. Parents are responsible for their child’s safety at the bus stop.

Grace James Rd bus stop procedure
The Grace James bus stop has moved to the farm side of the road where there is no footpath. A large number of children use this stop. They should wait on the footpath outside 8A in the morning. When the bus stops opposite, the kids are to cross the road behind the bus in single file. In the afternoon the kids need to stand on the grass well clear of the bus and wait for it to depart before crossing to the footpath side.

The School Bus Route Review meeting is scheduled for Tuesday 2nd December 7pm at school. Please mark the date in your calendar. This is your opportunity to give feedback on the bus route for 2015. 

Reminder New Bus Route Starting Term 2

A new school bus route will take effect from Monday 5th April, the first day of Term Two. Click here to view the new bus route map and timetable.

The new bus route runs in a figure 8 loop that accommodates all existing bus users and will enable more families to use the bus. Importantly it also addresses bus stop safety concerns that had arisen due to our larger-size bus. The same route will be followed both morning and afternoon.

Thank you to those parents who contributed to the bus route planning via the bus website and registration forms, and special thanks to those parents who participated in the bus route meetings. This new bus route will be used at least through to the end of this year. It will be reviewed in December and we’ll welcome your feedback at that time.

Bus stop times have changed
The bus will be turning left out of school and heading first to the north. This means the majority of bus stop times have changed. Current bus users please refer to the timetable for your new bus stop times. In some cases a bus stop may have moved to the opposite side of the road.

If you are not currently using the school bus please take a look at the new route. You might find the bus is now serving your area and you can avoid the hassle of trying to find a park outside school. To start using the bus please complete the registration form.

Valley Road bus stop has moved. New ‘Town Stop’ with plenty of parking.
The bus will no longer be turning right at the Valley Road dairy. The Valley Road stop is moving to opposite #68 Valley Road for families on foot. In addition there is a new convenient ‘town stop’ at the Family Christian Centre carpark on Belgium Road. It has plenty of parking and a safe area for kids to wait. Thanks to the generosity of the Family Christian Centre for allowing us to use their carpark.

Allow 20 metres at your bus stop
We have a large school bus and it’s important that you allow at least 20 metres parking distance to enable the bus to pull up curbside and pull out. The bus is delayed when parents park too close to the bus stops.

Be visible at your gate
Please make sure your children are visible at your gate in the mornings so the bus driver knows well in advance to stop.

If you have questions about the bus route please email sallyjgrey@gmail.com or call me 0212391244.

Cape Hill & Tuhimata Trial

This week our bus driver Debbie is trialling a new bus route segment in the morning, turning right out of Grace James Rd and along Cape Hill Rd and Tuhimata Rd to school. The trial segment is marked in red on the map below.

Tuhimata Rd map

The Bus Society needs to know how many children would catch the bus on Cape Hill Rd or Tuhimata Rd if this became an option. Please use the form below if you would like the bus to stop on Cape Hill Rd or Tuhimata Rd.

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