As schools get ready to open with new processes and safety measures in place, secondary school pupils are asked to consider how they get to and from school to allow for the safest travel options.
Pupils are encouraged to walk or cycle to school where this is possible, to help alleviate pressures on buses.
Students that do need to travel by bus, are asked to travel at the appropriate times ahead of their allocated school start. Schools across the city are staggering start and finish times to reduce the amount of pupils coming into school and travelling on buses at any one time.
Social distancing measures will be in place on public buses and so less people will be able to travel on each bus.
Additional buses, specifically for school pupils, will be operating for September to help transport students to and from school. Children travelling on dedicated buses for schools are not required to social distance, as set out by national guidance, as students will not be sharing the bus with the general public. Students should sit with others from their year group or bubble if possible.
Students are advised to check their bus route and times via Stagecoach and East Yorkshire buses websites. East Yorkshire buses also has a When2Travel live tracker so journeys can be planned for quieter times.
All students over the age of 11 will be required to wear a face covering on public buses and advised to wear coverings on school buses, unless they have a medical exception.
Councillor Peter Clark, Portfolio Holder for learning and skills said:
“We’re looking forward to having all pupils back in school in September, and schools, along with our partners, have been planning to ensure safe measures are in place ready for re-opening. One of the biggest challenges for our secondary schools, is getting pupils to and from school where buses are required. To help alleviate the pressures, we are asking students to walk or cycle to school where they are able to do so.
“As a city we have been working hard to make the roads cycle-friendly with the introduction of new cycle lanes and for the well-being of our residents we encourage families to move more for both physical and mental health. September provides an opportunity for students to get active through walking or cycling to school.”
