Helping students get over first bus ride jitters

Edmonton public schools held its "first riders" event to make sure young bus riders are ready for the first day of school.

Students who will be taking the bus for the first time in the upcoming school year got the chance to see what that will be like Monday.

The 17th annual First Rider event is put on by Edmonton Public Schools as a way to dispel any nerves kids might have about using yellow or ETS buses for the first time.

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Students from kindergarten to high school were welcome at the event, which takes them through a number of stations to learn about taking the bus safely.

“One being the danger zone station, where to stand in relation to the bus - so three meters around the bus, so the driver can see them - stay in your seat, face forward, listen to the driver, things like that,” said Haydn Sanchez Avery, the manager of student transportation with Edmonton Public Schools.

“Then at the very end, they actually get to ride the bus.”

Edmonton Public Schools has 16,000 students registered for yellow buses this year, according to Sanchez Avery.

He says it helps remove one worry from the minds of students and parents, who might have a number of other things on their mind on the first day of school.

Other tips include being at the bus stop five minutes early so you dontt have to run to catch the bus, which could lead to tripping, especially in the winter, added Beverly Maddox, a dispatcher with First Student.

Students and parents at the event told CTV News Edmonton it was “very informative” and helped allay any fears they had.