New school buses see fall in anti-social behaviour

Date published: 19 March 2009

Yellow school buses are cutting anti-social behaviour and saving parents from rush-hour traffic, according to Greater Manchester Integrated Transport Authority.

Incidents of anti-social behaviour have plummeted from 170 to 46 (72%) at schools served by yellow buses across Greater Manchester in the past school year, compared with the 12 months before services were introduced.

Falinge Park High School is the only Rochdale school to use the service but it is hoped more will sign up in the future. 

Councillor Ian MacDonald, chairman of GMITA’s transport network committee, said: “I am delighted these services are producing such great results.

“They help parents relax in the knowledge that their child will get an allocated seat on a bus with CCTV and seat belts, driven by a specially-trained driver.”

A survey of new users found that parents had collectively saved 1,595 car miles a day by using the services.