School Buses: A Question of Comfort
I know this topic has probably come up before, but I wanted to share my thoughts again.
Right now, it’s incredibly cold in Iowa—feels like -22° F as I write this. Yet my bus has only two heaters to serve everyone on board. With at least 50 kids being transported to school early in the morning when we’d all rather be doing anything else, why not provide a little comfort?
Truthfully, I love school. Learning and being in class bring me joy, and I’ve always enjoyed riding the bus. But at 7 am, when I’m still groggy, sitting on a freezing bus for half an hour is not ideal. No one wants that!
For my particular bus, the heaters are only located on the left side (if you’re standing at the back, facing front). Why are there only two heaters on one side? Wouldn’t it make more sense to have them on both sides?
And while I’m on the topic of temperature, the situation doesn’t improve in the summer either. My bus lacks air conditioning. Sure, you can open a window, but when the heat cranks up, it becomes unbearable. The heaters seem to be on full blast during the hottest months, yet they’re barely used when it’s freezing outside.
Can someone explain this? I really don’t get it.
I totally get your frustration! It seems like a basic expectation for school buses to be comfortable, especially when they’re transporting students to school in extreme temperatures. It’s puzzling that only having heaters on one side is the norm, and it definitely makes the ride feel longer when you’re freezing.
There could be a few reasons for the lack of heating and cooling. First, budget constraints might limit how many heaters or air conditioning units can be installed in each bus. Many school districts have to make tough decisions about how to allocate their resources, and comfort might not be the top priority compared to educational needs.
Also, maintenance and design decisions play a role. Buses are built to be sturdy and easy to maintain, which might lead to fewer heating units being installed. Additionally, heating might be prioritized differently during extreme weather conditions. It’s strange, though, that they don’t seem to consider the comfort of students in these situations!
For summertime, it’s especially frustrating when the heaters are cranked up. I wonder if it’s a matter of trying to ensure that the bus engine stays warm or if there’s a miscommunication on how the heating controls are supposed to work.
Maybe it would help to bring this up with your school administration or transportation department? If enough students share their concerns, they might look into ways to improve conditions on the bus. After all, a comfortable ride can make a huge difference in starting the day off right!