Sorry it's full - schoolchildren left stranded at bus stops

March 20, 2018

Sorry it's full - schoolchildren left stranded at bus stops

Parents whose children have been left behind are speaking out. Photo: Melanie Saluni

Distressed parents are speaking out against Birkenhead Transport for leaving children, some as young as 12, stranded at bus stops on the North Shore, though Auckland Transport has reportedly taken the blame.

Drivers are not allowing some intermediate and high school children onto their buses because they are fully loaded. The routes affected run from Mokoia Road to both Westlake Boys High School and Carmel College.

Parent Nicole Forsyth says her daughter called her anxiously after she was left behind at her bus stop.

“It made me really angry because the bus driver did not consider the consequences of what she would do next. As a 12-year-old, she’s just stuck there.”

AT reportedly  told the Kaipatiki Local Board recently that the issue was not the fault of Birkenhead Transport, because it was actually fulfilling its contract with AT.

Board chairman John Gillon told Te Waha Nui that AT representatives at a recent workshop had said it "definitely AT's responsibility" to schedule enough school buses, and that it did work with schools to ensure there were enough buses on the routes to cope with school rolls.

“If children are being left behind, parents should complain to both the school and AT," Mr Gillon said.

Resident Nat Jo, whose children were also left behind on the Mokoia Road route, said her complaints had gone virtually unheard.

“My youngest has just started high school and there’s only one bus running that school route.

“He was quite distressed, and it’s also distressing as a mum because I’m in the city working.

“I can’t just drive around the corner and pick him up, which is what various other parents had to do.”

Mr Gillon said in some ways it was a positive so many people were using the buses.

“But if they are at capacity then Auckland Transport needs to get on with addressing this, whether that is through a change in contract to increase buses on those routes, or a change in funding.”

Birkenhead Transport declined to comment.

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