Gas prices mean more students take bus

ATLANTA – Most weekday afternoons, Patricia
Israel waits in her front yard for the school bus to drop off her 6-year-old twin sons.

The boys beg to ride the bus every day, which Israel said is fine with her. She sees it as environmentally sound transportation that reduces traffic on the streets and at the school.

It also saves money on gas for her sport utility vehicle. “We’re looking at getting a hybrid,” Israel said. “Every time I fill up the gas tank, it’s like $75.”

With gas prices hovering around $3 per gallon, more parents are sending their kids to school on the bus this fall, and school districts across the nation have noticed the increase in ridership.

AP