Comfortable school transportation is getting more reliable for students here at Wilsonville High School, as this plays an important role in students’ daily life. Some students drive themselves to school or get driven to school by others; however, the majority have to use different options such as public transportation. There are many reasons why students use public transportation over personal vehicles.
Dating back all the way to 1988, Wilsonville first started using the SMART bus, making it easier on students who couldn’t get a ride home, and did not have the financial stability of using a car. There are many reasons why students opt to take the SMART bus in comparison to personal forms of transportation.
Student transportation plays a big role at Wilsonville High School. Not only does transportation impact student safety and attendance, but is a foundation of effective public education.
Aspen Braham states, “It’s really convenient because I don’t have a lot of other options.” Braham also said she feels mostly comfortable but sometimes not as much because “whenever there are other high schoolers, I feel comfortable, but sometimes if I leave early or get off late, it’s uncomfortable.”
Depending on the student and where they live, each ride can take from as long as fifty minutes to as short as ten to get where they need to go. However, traffic and various other problems can cause delays.
Elliott Frempong says, “It usually takes me 30 minutes to get from or to school because I live on the other side of town.” He also states, “I use public transportation very often… I used to take my bike but not anymore because my bike got a flat tire.”
Both Frempong and Braham believe the SMART bus is a very reliable and safe way for them to get home and to school. Elliot shares, “It’s not like the bus breaks down or anything, and it always shows up on time.”
However, while talking to them on how they think student transportation could improve, Frempong exclaims, “If we could use the short bus [SMART bus] when there is no demand, that would be great.”
Student transportation plays a big part in getting students to school safely and on time. It’s a great option for students who don’t have a car or aren’t able to drive. While there’s room for improvement, the SMART bus proves to be a reliable way to get around. Overall, it’s a safe and convenient way for students to get to and from school, and it’ll continue being important for many students, especially in the Wilsonville community.