Emeryville Bus Transportation FAQs

School Bus Transportation to and from Emeryville

• Who will provide the school bus transportation?
• How do I sign up for the bus?
• Will buses run on the first day of school?
• How many bus routes will there be?
• How long are the routes?
• How many bus stops will there be on each route?
• Would the ride time be shorter with fewer, more centralized stops?
• How are the bus stops determined?
• May I select more than one bus stop? Must the morning and afternoon bus stops be the same?
• How early does a student need to arrive at the bus stop? What happens if a student misses the bus?
• What will happen when the staggered reading schedule starts?
• Will the bus pick up at Schoolmates in the morning?
• Will the buses drop off at Schoolmates in the afternoon?
• What will happen if I’m late to meet my child at the bus stop in the afternoon?
• Will the buses have seat belts?
• Will there be supervision at the bus stops?
• Can I request that my address be designated as a bus stop?
• Can I ride the bus with my child?
• Can my kindergartener ride the bus to Beach?
• Will there be a bus to bring students home after after-school enrichment programs at Havens Jr.?
• When will I receive confirmation of the bus stop?
• How do I request a new bus stop? How do I request different bus stops for the morning and afternoon? Who do I contact if I have questions about the bus program?

Q: Who will provide the school bus transportation?

A: The Lamorinda School Bus Program (LSBP), which has been managing school bus transportation for school districts in Lafayette, Moraga and Orinda for fourteen years, will manage Piedmont’s school bus transportation. First Student, a well-respected, national bus company with a proven safety record, will provide the transportation services.
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Q: How do I sign up for the bus?

A: You must register with the LSBP on-line at www.piedmontschoolbus.org, at which time you will select your route and bus stop. Information about registration will be sent to parents in early June, and registration will begin June 8. Prior to the start of school each student will receive a laminated bus pass that includes the student’s route and bus stop.
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Q: Will buses run on the first day of school?

A: Yes, the buses will run on the first day of school and every school day.
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Q: How many bus routes will there be?

A: There will be four bus routes in the Havens attendance area. On minimum days and other days when all students arrive or depart at the same time (rather than on a staggered schedule), First Student will use one or two additional buses to accommodate the larger number of students traveling at one time, and the routes and stop times will be slightly modified. Even if the number of buses and the precise routes vary, each student’s bus stop will remain the same.
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Q: How long are the routes?

A: The total ride time will be approximately 35 to 40 minutes. The routes will be on city streets only (not freeways).
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Q: How many bus stops will there be on each route?

A: Each route will have approximately ten bus stops, timed one or two minutes apart. This makes it possible for most students to walk to and from their bus stop.
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Q: Would the ride time be shorter with fewer, more centralized stops?

A: Not necessarily. Loading large numbers of students at one stop can take more time than loading the same number of students at a series of smaller stops. Additionally, it can be unsafe if too many students are waiting and boarding or disembarking at one location. It can also lead to traffic congestion and negative impacts on neighbors.
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Q: How are the bus stops determined?

A: Safety is the overriding factor in choosing routes and bus stops. Representatives from First Student, who are trained in school bus safety, selected the routes and bus stops. First Student also considered traffic congestion and whether the stops are distributed as evenly as possible through the attendance area. Narrow or otherwise unsafe streets were not selected. Whenever possible, bus stops will be located in front of the home of a student riding the bus.
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Q: May I select more than one bus stop? Must the morning and afternoon bus stops be the same?

A: When you register with the LSBP you may choose a primary and alternate bus stop for the morning, and a primary and alternate bus stop for the afternoon. This will allow you to choose a stop other than the one closest to your home, and choose different stops for the morning and afternoon. Each child’s laminated buss pass will list his or her primary and alternate bus stops.
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Q: How early does a student need to arrive at the bus stop? What happens if a student misses the bus?

A: Students should arrive five minutes before the scheduled stop time so they do not miss the bus. If a student misses the bus, the student can catch the bus at a later stop on the route. If the student does not catch the bus at a later stop, it is the parents’ responsibility to drive the student to school.
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Q: What will happen when the staggered reading schedule starts?

A: When staggered reading starts, buses will serve early and late readers. Whether a student is an early reader or late reader, the student’s bus stop will be the same. The only change will be the scheduled stop time.
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Q: Will the bus pick up at Schoolmates in the morning?

A: Yes, every morning a bus will stop at Schoolmates to pick up students and take them to Emeryville, for both the 8:30 a.m. and 9:35 a.m. bell times. Even if a student is signed up for a bus stop near his or her home, the student may board the bus at Schoolmates.
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Q: Will the buses drop off at Schoolmates in the afternoon?

A: Yes, all four buses will stop at Schoolmates in the afternoon. Schoolmates staff will greet the bus and check in each student who is signed up for Schoolmates for that day. Even if a student is signed up for a bus stop near his or her home, the student may get off the bus at Schoolmates if the student is signed up for Schoolmates for that day.
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Q: What will happen if I’m late to meet my child at the bus stop in the afternoon?

A: The District policy is that 1st and 2nd graders must be met at the bus stop by an authorized person. Older students may get off the bus unattended. If no authorized person is waiting for a 1st or 2nd grader, the driver will keep the student on the bus and bring the student to Schoolmates. For this reason, even if you do not plan to use Schoolmates, you are required to register 1st and 2nd graders with and provide emergency contact information to Schoolmates.
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Q: Will the buses have seat belts?

A: Yes, the four buses which will run on regular school days have lap-shoulder belts. However, there will be times when the District requires more than four buses at one time, such as on minimum days (when all students arrive and depart at the same time) and on days when there are field trips. When an additional bus is required, the “extra” bus may not have lap-shoulder belts. It should be noted that school buses without seat belts are extremely safe. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, school buses are seven times safer than passenger vehicles, even without seat belts.
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Q: Will there be supervision at the bus stops?

A: The District will not provide supervision at bus stops. It is the parents’ responsibility to supervise their child until the child has boarded the bus.
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Q: Can I request that my address be designated as a bus stop?

A: Yes. Bus stops are often the driveway or front steps of a residence, and it is common for parents to request that their address be designated as a bus stop for their convenience and for better adult supervision. To the extent possible, First Student accommodates these requests.
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Q: Can I ride the bus with my child?

A: No. The only adults permitted to ride the buses with the students are the driver and authorized school staff who have undergone State-mandated background checks.
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Q: Can my kindergartener ride the bus to Beach?

A: No. There will be no bus service for kindergarteners.
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Q: Will there be a bus to bring students home after after-school enrichment programs at Havens Jr.?

A: Yes. The specific route and stop times will be determined after enrollment in the enrichment programs is finalized.
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Q: When will I receive confirmation of the bus stop?

A: Each student will receive a bus pass and confirmation of his or her route and bus stop in early August.
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Q: How do I request a new bus stop? How do I request different bus stops for the morning and afternoon? Who do I contact if I have questions about the bus program?

A: Please contact the Lamorinda School Bus Program at 925-299-3215 or 925-299-3216 or e-mail SGraves@ci.lafayette.ca.us
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