Back-to-School Tips from SamTrans
Safety on the bus: School staff work collaboratively with SamTrans to ensure that student safety is a top priority on SamTrans buses. When you ride a SamTrans bus to or from school, school behavior rules still apply. Should your child experience any safety related concerns while riding a SamTrans bus, such as a problem with another student, please contact the school first about the situation. You may also contact SamTrans Customer Service to report the incident: 1-800-660-4287. SamTrans and the San Mateo County Office of Education recently collaborated on an onboard safety video to help students learn more about how to ride, good behavior on transit, and some of the safety features on SamTrans buses. SamTrans Safety Video for Students
· Knowing when the bus arrives: Please review the route’s schedule and map with your child on our website at: https://www.samtrans.com/rider-info/youth-riders. This will help your child know when the bus will arrive as well as the exact bus stop location.
· Key differences between yellow school bus service and SamTrans School-Oriented Service-Although both systems transport students, a SamTrans school-oriented route is a regular bus route meaning all members of the public can ride the bus along with students. On a SamTrans school oriented-route, students may be left unattended for a short duration if the operator needs to leave the bus for an urgent reason such as an emergency bathroom break. Operators follow safety procedures when doing so, such as securing the bus and informing passengers. Passengers on a SamTrans route may be seated or standing as long as they remain behind the yellow standee line.
· Paying the fare: Your child can pay the youth bus fare with a Clipper card ($1 fare), cash ($1.10 fare) or, if your student qualifies, with the youth unlimited pass (no fare payment required). If paying by cash, please send the exact fare with your child. For the 10-cent portion of the SamTrans fare, placing the coins in a small zip-top bag can help.
· School schedule changes: SamTrans bus schedules are set in advance for all school weeks in partnership with schools. Some minimum days have bus service on school-oriented-routes but some early-release days, and other special school schedule changes, may not have bus service. Please check the bus schedule on our website when planning your child’s trip.
Thank you in advance for your partnership. We look forward to ensuring you have a safe and enjoyable ride on SamTrans! For additional information about how we support our young riders please visit: Youth Safety | SamTrans
