Student Ridership Trends: Understanding Patterns With BusBoss Analytics

Throughout 2023 and into the next few years, school bus transportation may see systemic shifts in student ridership trends. These patterns and trends are causing parents and schools to explore alternative transportation methods as well as software solutions for more efficient student ridership management.

Some of the challenges include:

• Disabled students – The number of disabled students has been increasing since 1976. In addition to students’ unique ridership needs, the school bus driver shortage has negatively impacted students with disabilities more than other riders.
• Driver shortage – Even before the pandemic, 87% of transportation managers reported the shortage of trained bus drivers as a major problem.
• Housing/commutes – One study showed students with a 45+-minute bus commute had lower test scores, but without student ridership options, economic segregation can present yet another challenge. Homeless students’ pre-pandemic numbers were about two percent. Numbers today are 3.33%, with more students assisted by McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance and Every Student Succeeds acts.
• School choices – Parents and caregivers are exploring distance options beyond traditional neighborhood schools. Rising student attendance at out-of-area schools increases the need for software-driven transportation options.
  

Technology Key To Resolving Driver Shortage

School bus transportation software platforms aren’t only beneficial to school administrators, parents, and student-passengers. In today’s labor shortage, the hardest-hit industries are the ones that traditionally lacked technology: manual labor, skilled trades, and commercial/transportation drivers. Transportation technology is attractive to jobseekers who want a dynamic, technologically advanced career.

Stated simply, advanced technology is something schools can use to attract quality student transportation professionals. You can also lower administrative costs by reducing the time spent manually scheduling and routing bus transportation of students.

Online Information Enhances Student Ridership Safety, Tracking

School administrators and parents using web-based applications can access information about their students’ whereabouts. Your system administrator can allow specific need-to-know student information access that is customized for:

• All-access users
• Bus-specific data
• Contractor-user
• Drivers
• Parents
• Reports/information access
• School-specific users

Meeting Department of Education regulations and installing cybersecurity protections are priorities for every web-based application. Only authorized parents, staff, or drivers can access:

• Live Sync – Real-time student/transportation information
• MyTrips – Field trip management
• PARENTpatrol – By-the-minute bus locators
• ROUTEpatrol – Real-time route navigation with interface
• SIF Agent – Student information system
• STUDENTpatrol – Student deviation alerts for staff/parents
• TRIPpatrol – Real-time route information/mapping
  

BusBoss Student Ridership Management

For 25 years we’ve been a leading provider of student transportation software that provides enhanced safety and reduces time-wasting administrative tasks. Our clients depend on us for customized transportation programs; small school districts and big-city bus contractors alike. We want to partner with you to create a program that meets your organization’s unique transportation requirements.

To learn more, call 866-740-8994 or contact BusBoss.

Are student ridership requirements changing? Did you know 91% of U.S. parents feel school transportation improvements should include tech-enabled solutions? Share your comments and questions below.