Busing

Below are the guidelines used when determining the location of a student’s bus stop. Select the box below to see if your address is located in the CI District.

For students in grades K-5:

• Students living more than 1 mile from their schools, but still within the attendance area for that school, will receive transportation and be assigned to a bus stop during the school year.
• Bus stops should not be more than .25 miles from a student’s home and will be located within the neighborhood to concentrate as many student riders at one stop as possible. Stops are designated by using the guidelines for bus stop criteria below.
• Students living within 1 mile of their schools are considered in the walk zone and no bus transportation will be provided.
• Students living outside their school’s attendance area will not receive transportation.

 For students in grades 6-12:

• Students living more than 1 mile from their schools, but still within the attendance area for that school, will receive transportation and be assigned to a bus stop during the school year.
• Bus stops should not be more than .5 miles from a student’s home and will be located within the neighborhood to concentrate as many student riders at one stop as possible. Stops are designated by using the guidelines for bus stop criteria below.
• Students living within 1 mile of their schools are considered in the walk zone and no bus transportation will be provided. 
• Students living outside their school’s attendance area will not receive transportation.

Bus routing is designed with buses traveling main roads through neighborhoods and with students picked up and dropped off at central locations. Bus stops are located at corners or intersections whenever possible and are usually central to where students are coming from. Some house stops are made on very busy roads or mid-way on long streets. Bus stops will generally be closer to students’ houses for younger students. Older students are expected to be able to walk farther to bus stops.

Students are expected to ride their assigned bus to their assigned stops. No Bus Passes except in cases of emergency.

Safety

• Students are generally taught to cross at corners rather than in the middle of the street.
• Traffic controls, such as stop lights or signs are located at corners. This tends to slow down motorists at corners and they tend to be more cautious as they approach intersections. The motoring public generally expects school buses to be stopping at corners rather than individual houses. Impatient motorists are also less likely to pass buses at corners than along a street. Cars passing school buses create the greatest risk to students who are getting on or off the bus.
• In the winter, salting and sanding is usually done at corners, providing safer stopping for buses and cars.
• Buses use their eight-way light system and stop arm when picking up and dropping off students. Corner stops allow ample time for the driver to activate the yellow warning lights before getting to the stop.
• Bus drivers, especially substitute bus drivers, can see corner stops much more easily than house numbers so they can keep their focus on their driving. House numbers are located in a variety of places on houses and are often not easily visible from the street, especially in bad weather and at dawn or dusk.

Efficiency

• Ride times for students are shorter if buses are kept on main roads and are not sent down every street. Route changes for new students can be more easily accommodated when stops are at corners. Minimizing stops also reduces costs for fuel as well as wear and tear on the buses.

Other bus stop considerations

Combinations of the following criteria are also considered when establishing bus stops

• Address must be in the attendance area of the assigned school.
• Only one stop in the morning and one stop in the afternoon is allowed. Alternating between stops will not be allowed.
• Length of walk to the stop.
• Time of day students are at the stop. Is there rush hour traffic? Volume of traffic on the road. Is the stop on a residential street or a main arterial road?
• If the street is busy, are there sidewalks to walk on?
• Does the child have to cross a busy street to get to the stop?
• What is the age of the student?
• Does the route require that the bus do a turn-around at the stop location?

• It is not possible to provide bus stops that are within sight of all student's homes or daycares. Most families that live even one house from the corner cannot see the corner bus stop without coming out of the house. We encourage parents to be out at bus stops to promote proper pedestrian and bus stop behavior.
• Many routes travel past students’ houses on the way to or from school. A house stop isn’t required just because the bus goes past a student's house. The more stops made by the bus, the more impatient other drivers become, causing them to drive around the bus, which is a safety concern. Frequent stops also increase route times.
• A house stop would not necessarily be made because there is only one student at the stop. Other students may be assigned to the stop, but ride infrequently. Also, stops are made at corners for efficiency and to accommodate other students who may move into the neighborhood.
• A bus stop will not be made within a cul de sac. A school bus requires 115 feet to safely turn, and cul de sacs usually do not have enough room for safe access; particularly in the winter or when other vehicles are parked in the cul de sac. Going into a cul de sac forces the bus to have to back up, and this is a dangerous maneuver we want to avoid.
• Weather conditions are not part of the criteria for a bus stop change.

The order of pickup and drop-offs of students is designed to be the most efficient and within the shortest possible time. Students who are first on in the morning will not necessarily be the first off in the afternoon if it is a less efficient way to run the route. In general, the farther students live from school, the longer their bus ride will be. The length of the bus ride is determined by both the distance from school and the number of stops made. It takes a considerable amount of time to make thirty stops for 50-60 students for example. For this reason, we are making every attempt to minimize the number of bus stops and to keep them at corners.

Student Bus Safety Training

Students in K-10th grade are required to receive classroom training on school bus safety and understand the competencies by the third week of school.

• Riding the school bus is a privilege, not a right.
• Know the bus rules
• Know the consequences
• Know the danger zone
• Waiting for the bus, riding the bus and leaving the bus
• Know evacuation procedures

• School Bus Safety Training
• School Bus Safety Test (K-5)
• School Bus Safety Test (6-10)

Danger Zone

Please remind your children they must never try to retrieve books or papers from around or underneath the bus. We suggest children keep all papers and articles in a backpack.

We encourage families who live within the walking zone to consider walking or biking to school.  When more children walk and bike to school, the auto pick up and drop off congestion around the school diminishes and makes it safer for everyone. The decision to walk and bike should take into account the child’s age and maturity, the presence of sidewalks and crosswalks as well as the distance to school.  We recommend that parents take an active role in teaching their children the rules of the road, and practicing the best route to school with their children, pointing out crosswalks and how to be safe.

• Walking and Bike Safety Training
• Walking and Bike Safety Test (K-5)
• Walking and Bike Safety Test (6-8)

Tips for Walking to School

Where to Walk

• Always walk on the sidewalk when available, rather than in the street. If there is no sidewalk and you must walk in the street, walk so you are facing the cars and can see traffic coming! Stay out of parking lots and be careful near driveways! These are places where drivers of cars are not usually looking for kids. Pay attention when you are walking. Assume that drivers can’t see you.

Crossing the Street

• The safest place to cross the street is in a marked crosswalk or at the intersections, not in the middle of the block.
• Walk, don’t run. Obey traffic signals.
• Stop at the curb or the edge of the street. Look for turning vehicles and listen for cars. If there are cars approaching, make sure the driver sees you and stops before you step into the street.
• Look left, look right, look left again, behind you and in front of you for traffic before crossing a street or stepping into traffic.
• Look across all lanes of traffic and make sure all lanes are clear before crossing.

See and Be Seen

• It is important that everyone can see you and you see them, especially when crossing the street. Wear bright colors or reflectors so that you are visible. If you are walking when it is dark, consider using a flashlight.

Walk with Friends

• ·Walking in groups not only helps drivers see you better, it is a fun and healthy way to spend time together with your family or friends. You can walk to school with friends in your neighborhood by starting a “Walking School Bus”. It is a great way to stay safe and be seen on your walk to school.

Be Aware of Your Surroundings

• Always pay attention to what is going on around you, it’ll help you stay safe and you’ll probably see some cool things you wouldn’t normally notice too! Watch for ice, water, bike riders, or any hazards in your path.

Have Fun

• Walking is a fun way to get outside with your friends and family, take advantage of every opportunity you get to walk and you’ll be happy and healthy for life.

Tips for Biking to School

Always Wear a Helmet

• A helmet protects your brain in case you fall over or crash. Wearing your helmet correctly will make sure it stays on to protect your head from injury. Make sure it is level and snug. You should be able to see the helmet brim

Be Visible

• Wear bright colors or reflectors so drivers can see you from far away. Roll up your pant leg and tie your shoes so they don’t get caught in the chain. Wear a helmet for every ride, even short ones! Avoid riding at night. If you ride when it is dark, make sure to use lights on the front and back of your bicycle.

Be Predictable

• It is important to follow all the rules of the road. Practice riding to school with an adult to learn hand signals, safety tips, landmarks and potential dangers. Control your bicycle by keeping at least one hand on the handlebars at all times. Carry books in a backpack or carrier to help you balance. Be sure to get permission from a parent before riding to school alone.

Be Alert

• Ride on the right side of the road going with the flow of traffic.
• Ride in a straight line when riding with other bikers, not side by side.
• When turning, look back for cars and use your hand signal.
• Yield to traffic when appropriate. If you see people walking across the street, stop and wait for them to cross.  
• Always stop at the end of your driveway and look left, right, and then left again before bicycling into the road.
• Watch for cars backing out of driveways and for cross traffic at intersections.
• Use your eyes AND ears. Don’t wear earphones or listen to music while you are riding so you can hear traffic.
• Watch for and avoid dangers that can cause crashes, such as potholes, loose gravel or dogs.

Have Fun

• Have Fun! Bicycling is a fun way to get out and about with your friends and family. Take advantage of every opportunity you get to bicycle and you’ll be happy and healthy for life!

ABC QUICK CHECK FOR YOUR BICYCLE

• Air: Squeeze your tires to make sure they are firm and full of air.
• Brakes: Hold down your brakes and try to move your bicycle back and forth. If it doesn’t move your brakes are working.
• Chain: Make sure your chain is black or silver and quiet when you ride, if it is orange or squeaky it is rusty and needs some oil.

School Bus Stop Arm Camera Program

Cambridge-Isanti Public Schools would like to remind drivers of the rules they must follow when they encounter a school bus on the roadway. This state law is designed to help keep students safe when they are loading or unloading school buses. In addition to raising awareness regarding bus safety and laws for drivers, Cambridge-Isanti Schools has placed cameras on buses as a deterrent for drivers who illegally pass school buses.

The law requires that drivers in both directions stop at least 20 feet away when they see a school bus with its red lights flashing and stop arm extended. The fine for failing to stop is $500.

Please keep our students safe by stopping for the stop arm.