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frequently asked questions

Eligibility – Who Can Ride the Bus?
Registration and Fees
Routes and Stops
Late Buses
Safety and Security

ELIGIBILITY - WHO CAN RIDE THE BUS?

How is eligibility for transportation determined?
Eligibility is based on the student’s primary residence address.  Students must attend their designated school AND live in the Transportation Service Area. Click here for the School Designation by Residential District and Grade.

How do I find my designated school?
Click here for the School Designation by Residential District and Grade.

What is a Transportation Service Area?
A transportation service area is an area beyond a school within which bus routes are established to transport designated students to the school.

How do I find out if bus service is available for my child?
Contact your child's school. Click here for School Address and Phone Numbers.

Can an ineligible sibling ride the bus with their eligible sibling?  Can an ineligible student have access to yellow bus service?
Students who are not eligible for subsidized transportation can apply to ride the bus as a conditional rider. They cannot ride the bus until written approval is received.

I have curb service for a child with special education needs.  Can I make arrangements for a sibling to ride that bus?
If the sibling is not eligible for transportation, you can apply for them to ride the bus as a conditional rider. If the sibling is eligible and if there is space on the bus, then yes, arrangements can be made for the sibling to ride the same bus.

What is a conditional rider and what conditions apply?
Click here for information about conditional riders.

When will I know if I have been approved as a conditional rider?
Parents must first submit an Expression of Interest for Conditional Rider Status form.  If it has been determined by Transportation Services that there is space on the bus, parents will receive a Conditional Rider Contract.  If it has been determined that there is NO space on the bus, parents will receive a letter stating that conditional rider status cannot be granted.  

Conditional riders CANNOT RIDE the bus until they receive and submit the Conditional Rider Contract.

Some conditional rider applications cannot be approved until the final head counts are received at the end of September, therefore, approval may or may not be granted until mid-October. 

Can my child bring a friend home after school with him/her on the bus or can a parent ride the bus with their child (e.g., to volunteer at the school or for a field trip)?
The principal may authorize occasional riders to ride the bus.  Arrangements should be made well in advance with the principal of the school.

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REGISTRATION AND FEES

How do I apply for yellow bus service?
Send the completed Charter Transportation Contract with payment of fees to your child's school or complete the Application for Waiver of Fees form. Click here for forms.

What are the current charter bus fees?
Click here for current fee schedule.

Once I apply for service, when will I receive the details about my child’s busing?
Your child’s school will have bus routes available three days prior to classes starting in the fall.  Routes and schedules for alternative programs will be posted on the CBE Transportation website in mid-August. Charter bus passes will be distributed by your child’s school during the first two to three weeks of classes.

Where can I buy bus passes for my child?
Charter bus passes are sent to schools to distribute after the Charter Transportation Contract and fee payment is processed.  Calgary Transit bus passes can be purchased at any vendor (e.g., Co-op, Mac’s, Safeway . . .).  For a complete list of vendors refer to Calgary Transit's website - Fare Vendors.

Can I get a refund of the fees I paid if I stop taking the bus?
Click here for information on refunds.

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ROUTES AND STOPS

Why does the yellow bus not stop at my home for pickup and drop-off?
The CBE transports over 27,000 students on yellow school buses.  It is not possible to provide door to door service for students and keep ride times reasonable within our fiscal realities.

Is there a maximum walk distance?
Depending on choices families make, there are guidelines in place as to how far a child may have to walk to the school or a bus stop.  Under provincial regulations, the maximum walk distance to a school or bus stop is 2.4 kilometres for students in the regular or language programs. In many instances, the actual walk distance is shorter. Students in certain alternative programs may have to access congregated bus stops that are more than 2.4 kilometres from their residence. Refer to AR6095 for more details.

How can I find out the travel time to school?
All bus schedules are available at your child’s school and they show the pickup times   and arrival time at the school. Bus routes and ride times are subject to change at any time.

Is there a maximum ride time?
Ride times are as short as practicable and the CBE tries to keep them within one hour each way.  This is not always possible when children attend special setting schools or choose alternative programs.

Can my child be picked up at home but dropped off at daycare or a babysitter?
Only one bus stop will be scheduled for a student (or family if attending the same school) based on the address of their primary residence. Students can use a different bus stop morning or afternoon if one exists. Stops are not added to routes for day homes or day cares.

Who do I call if my child is ill or will be away?
It is only necessary to inform the school, unless your child is transported on a special needs route, taxi or a Handi Bus. If that is the case, then contact the carrier and the school as early as possible.

If I want a change to my child’s pickup or drop off location, can I just let the bus driver know?
No, you must complete a change request form.  You will be notified in writing if your request has been approved or not and if so the effective date. If your child is on a special needs bus, you must contact the CBE Transportation office at 403-817-7264.

What happens to the service if I move or change babysitters/daycares?
As long as you continue to be eligible for busing, your child can use any existing bus stops.  Stops will not be relocated or added to accommodate day homes or day cares.

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LATE BUSES

What do I do if the yellow bus does not arrive?
Ensure you have a back-up plan and that your child knows what it is.  This will differ for each family and may change from time to time because of weather or other circumstances. Check First Student Canada's late bus line before going to the bus stop or contact your specific carrier. Click here for Carrier Contacts.

When should I resort to the backup plan?  What is recommended as a backup plan?
Deciding what your backup plan will be and when you will use it are individual decisions that only you can make for your family.  You may want to consider possibilities like car pooling to and from school with neighbours or dropping and picking up your children at school.  We understand that these options are not possibilities for everyone and encourage you to develop a plan that is suitable to your family situation.

Why is my bus late?
There are a number of possible reasons for delays – traffic or bad weather are the most frequent.  Mechanical problems, driver unavailability, absence or illness or other unforeseen circumstances can also cause delays.  > More Information: Weather Days

How will I know if my child’s bus has been cancelled because of the weather?
Bus routes are not typically cancelled but can run significantly late during bad weather. Listen to announcements made by the local media. > More Information: Weather Days.

How will I know if my bus is going to be late?  Who do I call to find out if my bus is late?
School bus delays of more than 10 minutes are posted on the MySchoolBusMonitor website or call the following numbers for updates on your child’s routes:

• If your child is transported by First Student Canada, you can call their late bus line.  This line is updated frequently. (403-531-3900, press “3”).
• If your child is transported by Southland Transportation, call the transportation carrier directly (403-287-1335).
• Check Calgary Transit for Calgary Transit bus delays or call 403-262-1000.

What is a reasonable length of time to wait for a bus?
15-20 minutes is not an uncommon length of time to wait for a bus.  It is a personal decision for parents to make as to how long they want their child to wait. This may vary depending on weather, age of the child, work schedules, etc.

Are buses more likely to be late in the morning or afternoon?
Buses have been late for both morning and afternoon routes.  When you establish a back-up plan, you may want to ensure you have back-up arrangements made for transportation to AND from school.

If the bus is late in the morning, will my child be marked late?
Students will not be penalized for arriving on a late school bus.

If the bus is late in the afternoon, what happens to the students?
Schools will be notified if a school bus is going to be substantially late for an afternoon route.  Depending on the age and needs of the students, the school will determine the most appropriate back-up plan.

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SAFETY AND SECURITY

Why does my child have to cross a busy road to access the stop location?
Safety of students is a shared responsibility.  The CBE is responsible to locate bus stops in a safe location and parents are responsible to ensure their child travels safely to and from the bus stop or school.

If I am not at the stop location to meet my child, will he/she be dropped off unattended?
Yes, unless you have taught your child to stay on the bus and tell the driver that they are not allowed to get off when you are not there.

What should I do if my child has not returned home when expected?
Contact the school to ensure your child got on the bus and to find out if the bus left on time.  If so, call the carrier and the dispatcher will radio the bus driver.

What if my child is having problems with other children on the bus or with the bus driver?
To discuss problems with other students, contact the school.  To discuss problems with the driver contact the carrier. Click here for Carrier Contacts.

Who do I speak to about commendations and/or concerns regarding bus service?
Contact the carrier directly.  If concerns are ongoing and you are not able to resolve them with the carrier, contact the CBE Transportation Services office.

How can yellow buses be considered safe without the use of seatbelts?
Click here for information on seatbelt use in school buses.

Why can’t my child cross the street in front of the stopped yellow bus?
School buses operated within the City of Calgary are not permitted to use the eight-light warning system, stop signs, or the crossing arms to stop traffic. Therefore, it is safer for them to walk to the corner and wait for the bus to leave the stop so they have a clear view of the traffic and the traffic can see them before crossing.

Why don’t yellow buses use their stop signs and lights while at a stop location?
A City of Calgary Bylaw prohibits this practice.

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Content Moderator: Ron McArthur
Web Administrator: L. Miller
Last Modified: November 29, 2011