Parents Driving Transfer Students Ingredient in Congestion

16 percent! According to the paper, that's 6,750 students for whom the regular yellow bus system does not function.

Bus transportation is not provided for students who transfer within the district and there is an appeals process if the parents disagree with the decision.

"We know we cannot possibly offer the entire breadth of programs to our students at one school," said Kelly Carlisle, Salem-Keizer's assistant superintendent.

That's a lot of induced driving, mostly parents doing chauffeur duty.

Certainly for older students, that's a strong argument for Cherriots to have a free or heavily discounted youth bus pass program.

Here's another area where the City's Public Transit Committee should have an interest and work to coordinate efforts by the School District, Cherriots, and the City.