James Evans MS has met with the Children’s Commissioner to discuss concerns about the increasing use of public transport to take children to and from educational establishments.
James has had many parents contact him, all expressing concerns that their children are feeling anxious both at the start and end of the school day due to having to stand on public transport for considerable periods of time, on buses travelling up to 60mph on windy rural roads. Many children have little choice but to travel long distances to their place of education.
James Evans MS challenged the previous Education Minister as to the safety of children standing for long periods on public transport, but he did not share James’ concerns. Bus operators have a licence to allow a certain number of people to stand and be seated on the vehicles, meaning it is not illegal. It was disappointing that the Welsh Government’s ‘Leaner Travel Report’ in December 2023 recommended no immediate amendment to the legislation which underpins Learner Travel in Wales and is actively encouraging more children to be transported via public transport.
James Evans MS said:
“I am concerned that more and more school bus routes are switching from private to public bus operatives. The Learner Measure says it wants to ‘maximise the opportunities for our learners to active travel or use public transport to access their place of learning’. Overcrowding can cause tensions between the public using those services and the school children.
“I can understand the anxiety of having to stand on a bus for what could be an hour, on a bus travelling at 60mph on rural roads. It is a very different proposition to stand on a bus in Cardiff City Centre than on the A40 travelling over past Crai reservoir in the Autumn and Winter months!
“Placing children on regular service routes introduces issues that are simply not present when a private service is used instead. I’ve previously asked about the DBS checks that public bus drivers undertake and have been assured the relevant procedures are in place, but that does not stop a member of the public travelling on the same route potentially grooming a vulnerable child and building up a relationship.
“I am pleased the Children’s Commissioner share my concerns over placing more learners on public transport and have been assured that she will be raising this with both the new Education Cabinet Secretary and Transport Cabinet Secretary. Our priority must be to create a safe and welcoming environment in which students can learn to their true potential. This starts with the journey to and from school, as much as the school day itself.
“Talk to parents, talk to children in my constituency to get their experiences of travelling to school on public transport. Safety is key and I believe the Welsh Government need to look again at their policy."
