By: Yitzy Cohen – Lakewood, NJ
This year has been like no other. A bus driver shortage has affected us all leaving thousands stranded, quite literally, needing a way to transport their children to and from school. Even those spared, are facing unprecedented traffic jams.
The busing crisis is a national issue, with New Jersey getting hit pretty hard. But Lakewood the hardest from all. At the end of September, Politico ran an article detailing the dysfunction children across New Jersey are facing due to busing issues. “A review of local news stories, district websites and parent Facebook groups reveals kids in Glassboro, Camden, Paterson, Deptford, Jersey City, Wayne, Toms River and dozens of other districts have been left waiting for hours or were never picked up at all.” the piece read.
In Lakewood, the issue has gotten so out of control that a popular girls school had to shut its doors this past Friday due to ‘lack of drivers’. Others had 11AM dismissal, leaving kids with an hour and half of school, so drivers can tackle multiple schools.
Some people feel that if bus companies would pay more and create a positive environment with encouragement and bonus opportunities, the issue would be resolved. Others say it has to do with government programs which have been expanded due to Covid-19. ‘It really doesn’t pay to work when I collect so much from staying home,’ said a Jackson resident. This creates a ‘lazy’ environment where only higher paid jobs are sought after, to make it ‘worth it’.
Regardless, local Schools have started the process of receiving their own buses, parents are working on obtaining CDL’s (which is shockingly easy to obtain) and in a short time many parents will be hitting the roads in their new vehicles. One school already had 8 parents that agreed to take the training.
Kudos to those schools and parents!
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Comments
14 CommentsMendel Kaplan
Nov 24, 2021Good idea. I offered my services (cdl) to my children’s school(s) , they “politely” said no thanks… and just what and why do you feel is it shockingly easy to get a cdl in NJ ? It’s the same in every state, a cdl is a federal thing regulated by the fmcsa. But I’m not so sure this will be a good idea in lakewood, all these wild “entitled” drivers who are already involved in so many mva’s.
Yanky kenzer
Nov 24, 2021If you would be willing to, Nachlas Bais yaakov is willing to pay for CDL and pay nicely. If you are interested you can reach out to the school at 732-994-3935
ZL
Nov 24, 2021This may very well be 100% true. Kudos to these parents who are taking action instead of talking and complaining.
SK
Nov 24, 2021CDL isn’t shockingly easy to obtain
mordechai waintman
Nov 24, 2021Just what Lakewood roads need: inexperienced drivers driving school buses. Buses are a ‘little bigger’ than mini vans. And with people parking in no parking zones all across Lakewood, its that much harder to drive.
Mark Stein
Nov 24, 2021We have plenty of crisis,Shiduch crisis ,Bus crisis,teacher crisis,parnasah crisis,school crisis etc.I know many girls that I know personally are that out of a school(including my precious daughter) and still not in a school so I would say be happy that ur child has a school the bus is one of the small things.
L B
Nov 24, 2021It doesn’t have to do with pay it has to do with the disrespect we get. We’re supposed to work hard and hustle all day …meanwhile trying to avoid having accidents with all the craziness in town and watch the pedestrians… plus keep an eye on the kids in the bus that just can’t seem to sit still in their seats and be responsible for all these lives every day!!! It’s not becoming worth it !!! a lot of drivers have left because of it and those that haven’t left Lakewood yet or on the verge of leaving Lakewood. Maybe what they should do is get the owners of the bus companies and the drivers together and let them listen to the drivers complaints and honestly do something to fix it!!!
Baruch
Nov 24, 2021Agree 100%. I’m not a bus driver but I cannot imagine the stresses the bus drivers have to deal with daily, especially as they tend to drive during “Lakewood rush hour”. I drive for a private cab company here in Lakewood, and it’s stressful enough driving 1-4 passengers at a time in my midsized sedan; I can’t imagine how much more difficult it must be to drive 25+ unruly kids through insanely inadequate streets and traffic. This town needs tremendous improvements in many quality of life areas. We must show hakaros hatov to the folks that transport our kids daily (maybe in the form of a nice Xmas tip). Stay safe everyone
Supermom
Nov 24, 2021Yes! Parents need to step up to the plate! I wish I could, because I would!! But unfortunately, I am a mom of 2 special medical needs children so I can’t but I many schools all you need is a few parents willing to take a few days a week and we’d solve half the issues….I actually recently discussed this with my school’s administrator!
Bus driver
Nov 24, 2021Everyone can Help the situation by…
Don’t park at corners. Don’t double park. Don’t park on no parking sides. Don’t cut off busses. When u you stop to pick up your kid from play group you can park up to 6inch. From the curb u you don’t need to stick into the street 2 or 3 feet You can eliviate traffic by just letting the bus through the corner instead of blocking the corner waiting for the llight.
If these things where done. us bus drivers would be able to fit in another run morning and afternoon
Also a few drivers left the job cause very nice people call the police that they are speeding when there going 15-20 miles an hour in a 25 zone so why deal with it. By the ways diesel engine makes more noise than gas
Zev
Nov 24, 2021Why is this not a issue in Brooklyn?
Bus driver
Nov 24, 2021@zev I don’t know exactly but a bus driver in Brooklyn can make double than here
Vosizneioz
Nov 24, 2021The schools that PAY have drivers and buses covered look at
uta of lakewood…….
MESORAS AVOS…
Belz….
The chasiddim figure it out maybe they pay the price but job is done the right way…..
Mom
Nov 25, 2021Brooklyn…alot of kids walk…..also once they are in 7th grade they no longer go on school buses..they use public transportation