I'm a Pittsburgh parent with a middle school student at Sacred Heart Elementary School in Shadyside. Given this policy, my daughter, at just 10 years old, would have to walk alone in the dark to a PRT stop, cross dangerous intersections, and ride a city bus with no adult supervision. Yellow school buses are designed for children’s safety, but public transit is not. No parent should be forced to put their child in that position.

In recent years, the city of Pittsburgh has seen a troubling shift away from providing dedicated yellow school buses for middle school students. This decision places unnecessary risks on our children, asking them to navigate public transit systems that are not designed with young kids in mind. Yellow buses are equipped with trained drivers who understand how to handle the unique needs of young passengers, offering an added layer of security and peace of mind that public buses cannot match.

Data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration shows that school buses are the safest form of transportation for children, being 70 times safer than traveling by car. In contrast, public transit systems entail a higher risk factor, especially for unaccompanied minors. It's crucial to acknowledge these statistics and take action to ensure the wellbeing of our children.

Bringing back yellow buses for middle schoolers is a realistic and necessary goal. It's about prioritizing the health, safety, and accessibility for thousands of families across our city. I urge local government officials and the school district to reinstate this essential service for the peace of mind of Pittsburgh’s parents and the safety of its children.

We are asking Pittsburgh Public Schools to consider alternative solutions—just as other cities have successfully done. Options like pay-to-ride programs or investing in better transportation technology (one city saved $5 million this way) show that cost savings are possible without sacrificing student safety.

What is not acceptable is to simply hand children a bus pass and say “good luck.” Our kids deserve safe, developmentally appropriate transportation—not to be treated as an afterthought.

Our children are precious. The way they get to school matters. It is not only about safety—it shapes their daily experience. The ride to school sets the tone for their day. A calm, supervised, age-appropriate ride on a school bus helps children arrive ready to learn. By contrast, forcing young students onto public transit adds unnecessary stress, risk, and uncertainty to their mornings.

School transportation is more than just getting from point A to point B—it is part of their education journey. Our children deserve a system that reflects how much we value them.