Conference moira::parenting

    I believe that it is perfectly legal for kids to stand
    on the bus.

    It may be 3 kids to a seat (two seats per row) plus one standing
    per row...

    but that would be 7 per row...and 71 is not divisable by 7
    (one for the driver?)

    I live in the country....there are two long bus routes for the
    whole town..kids typically ride over an hour on the bus, depending
    now how far they live from school.  So many (MANY) parents drive
    their kids to school.  If no one drove, there would be over
    a hundred kids on the bus.  fortunately this never happens.
    but the number of kids on the bus swings wildly.

    We also have K-12 on the same bus.  pretty wild.
    bob

I'd guess that the 71 is right.  12 rows of seats, 2 seats in each row,
3 kids in each seat except for one back seat that only holds 2 kids.  I
think that the back seat on one side of the bus is smaller to allow the
handle for the emergency exit door to be pushed to the side to open the
door.
						Tracy

    I thought most busses state max adult/child seating capacity on the
    left side by the entrance door. I know I've seen it on some. Not sure if
    all have this info.
    
    3 kids per seat sounds cramped to me.

    
    I think that it's NOT legal to stand in a school bus.
    
    The bus is supposed to have the capacity on the outside of the bus,
    near the door.
    
     I always thought it was 2 per seat, but I could be wrong on that ....
    
    Could try calling the bus company, and see what they say - certainly a
    more impartial party.

I remember seeing limits on teh side of a school bus but it might have not ben
in MA.

What I really noticed was the fact that the limits were different depending on
the grades the children were in.

    In WESTBORO, MA we received a little handbook, inside are: Code of
    Conduct For Pupils Riding School Buses.
    
    "The following code of conduct is published as required by the School
    Committee Policy.  We trust that parents will review these rules with
    their children so that we will have good order and safety at bus stops
    and on school buses."
    
    "1. Conduct at bus stops and walking to bus stops.
        a. Walking to bus stop.
           (1)......
        b. At the bus stop.
           (1)......
        c. Loading the bus.
           (1)Move into the bus quickly.
           (2)Move to the rear and take your seat at once.
           (3)ELEMENTARY PUPILS MAY BE REQUIRED TO SIT THREE TO A SEAT. MOVE
              TOWARD THE WINDOW.
           (4)....
           (5)....
           (6)....
           (7)....
           (8)....
           (9)IF YOU ARE STANDING BECAUSE THERE ARE NO SEATS, BE SURE TO
              HOLD ONTO THE HAND GRIPS SECURELY.
    
    2..."
    
    
   Roberta
    

    The capacity of the buses around here are #seats X 3 kids per seat.  It
    does not matter what the age, the capacity is the same.  I remember in
    high school sitting 3 to a seat...you just looked for a seat with 2
    other skinnies.
    
    The school district usually counted 2 to a seat in older kids, but when
    it came down to it there were always a few who had to sit 3 in a seat.
    
    I don't know about mass, but in pa/nj I see alot of buses with the
    capacity marked on the bus but the door.
    
    That's why the minute we got a friend with a car, we stopped using the
    bus...3 (or 4) in the back seat of a car was still better than 3 in a
    bus seat.
    
    

    The capacity marked on the side of the bus is something like 48 adults
    (two to a seat) or 71 13" seats.  I guess that means each child (with
    back pack and winter attire) can only take up 13" of the seat!  I don't
    know at what age/grade they figure a child will need more than 13" but
    my daughter's bus picks up K-5.
    
    Thanks for all your replies!
    
    

    
    My son rides a K-5 bus with assigned seats and they sit 3
    to a seat with no problem.  I, also, remember that at
    least until 4th grade we had 3 to a seat assigned.  I don't
    remember any problems.
    
    Pam

    My son rides a K-3 bus with 3 to a seat.  We were having problems the 
    first couple of weeks cause the bus was wild and about half the kids
    parents got a call from the principal (mine included-he's in
    Kindergarten).  When I met with her at Open House I explained my
    concern and she says that is perfectly legal and they are allowed to
    have 10 kids standing although she does not permit.   I hate the idea
    of so many to a seat, they're small and I know they fit but still it
    seems like such a safety hazard and especially since there are no seat 
    belts.
     
    They have now assigned seats and everything seems to working alot
    better.