Is public transportation good for students and teachers?

By Alexandra M.

Public transportation, like taking the bus, is used everyday by students and teachers at CATS, but they often face a number of challenges and negative incidents on their way to and from school.

Ms. Salcido, a Social Studies teacher, mentioned she was surprised by the substantial number of students taking the bus to and from school. “Sometimes students can’t get on the bus that is going to take them to school because it’s already full,” she said.

It’s not just that buses fill up fast, but that often, they are delayed.

Ms. Salcido said that during peak hours there aren’t enough buses for everyone, which makes people wait longer for another bus to come.

She explained a typical scenario: “It was supposed to be here like, let’s says, 3:50 and it was delayed to 4:17 and then it pushed it back again to 4:35 and now it’s 5 o’clock right?” She said that some of her students would rather start walking home.

While catching or getting on the bus can be difficult, what happens inside these buses can be even worse.

Jazmine G., a junior, wakes up early every day and makes sure to take the correct bus. But it’s being aware of her surroundings that is most important.

Jazmine said that sometimes she experiences some form of harassment from men, like getting too close and staring in an uncomfortable way.

She shared a frightening experience she had.

“This man was drunk on the bus and he came up to me for money and I was scared,” she said. “I was alone in the back of the bus and he actually like, kinda like, trapped me in my seat and I was scared but I got away.”

Fellow junior Elizabeth C., who also takes the bus, mentioned how she saw a man who she believed to be houseless doing something inappropriate in the bus.

Ms. Salcido once witnessed a man getting on the bus and starting to vomit.

“I thought, well I should just get off and wait for the next bus, but you know how it is sometimes, it takes a really long time,” she said. “So I just opened a window in front of me and the window behind me and kept it pushing.”

Although the bus has its negatives, it also has its positives.

For example, Ms. Salcido mentioned the amount of money people save by just riding the bus and getting work done or doing a hobby to pass the time. Both Ms. Salcido and Elizabeth said it could get you to any place. Jazmine said that it’s very accessible for anyone, like people who are low-income, and it helps the environment.