83 replies to this topic

[Parizienne]

I have been trying to determine whether there will be bus transportation to Folsom High School for my 9th grader. There is not a single explicit word about this on the school web site nor the district site.

There was some suggestion in May about the state pulling money from the transportation budget for school districts to use for busing. However, I did look at the copy of the budget FCUSD submitted in June, and it indicates that busing to the high schools will be cut.

Why is there no information to confirm this? There is less than one month before school will be starting. As a parent, I'd like to know more about what options there are. I would appreciate a way to meet other parents for carpooling opportunities like friends of ours have done for their child who attends Jesuit. Jesuit actually organizes meetings so parents can network to form carpools from various areas. We've only lived here for two years, and I have yet to meet other parents of any kids her age in our immediate neighborhood.

I can get my daughter to school in the morning, but getting her home is going to be a more difficult problem. We live in north Folsom near ARC, so walking really wouldn't be practical. I don't want her walking that sort of distance --especially in inclement weather.

I work at Folsom Middle. I can pick her up most days, but not on Fridays. And if I have a staff meeting or district meeting for the two committees I serve, I won't be able to pick her up then, either. These are commitments I made at the end of last year, so I can't just back out of them.

I checked the Folsom Stage schedule and there is no stop near our house. The closest one is at the Old Folsom light rail station. Is this the best this city can do to support the transportation needs of its families? There are going to be a lot of kids wandering around after school. That doesn't seem like a very good idea.

Couldn't the school district work with public transit to add or extend routes, especially to areas like ours that are at the far edge of the city? There will be riders, because there aren't any school buses, so they'd make money.

I am really frustrated about this. Does anyone else share my concern and frustration?


Pari.

[Warren G]

Bike.

[supermom]

Folsom stage bus does stop at ARC--near vics, if I recall correctly. But your right, city transportation is in shambles. The bus doesn't even go near any of the schools on our side of town.

For my middleschooler--this year I told her she will ride the bus--but next year, when the stupid bridge opens, her but will be biking on that new bike path.......

[ChipShot]

Bike.

Exactly....just as most of us did as kids...Geeez......

 bike.jpg   3.47K   1 downloads

[EDF]

Bike.

You know that's the first thing I thought of when I read the title of the post...

Maybe the cops could be out there at some of the main intersections watching for the increase in "bike" traffic...

but what a way to keep the little tykes in shape...

Get one of those bike carriers for your car.. let your little darling ride the bike home... she'll just have to take the bike off the back rack when you drop her off.. and "voila"... we've just solved your problem.. and saved the school district some money... and... and...

Your little girl will get a great "cardio" workout...

It's not written in the constitution that school transportation be provided...

and maybe if you "libs" would allow for more drilling of resources in our own country and off the coast.. the school district would able to afford to pay for the gas for the busses...

maybe there are some "unintended" consequenses for the "liberal view" against drilling, nukes and clean coal...?

Just a few thoughts...

and one final thing... get some other parents together if riding a bike is not an option.. maybe they can keep the school library open a little longer so the little brats that need a ride home can hang out and get their homework done until their parents can get over there and pick em up...

Problem Solved...

WITHOUT ANY REQUIREMENT FOR NEW "GUV-MENT" FUNDING....

oh...

and you're welcome....

[asbestoshills]

I have been trying to determine whether there will be bus transportation to Folsom High School for my 9th grader. There is not a single explicit word about this on the school web site nor the district site.

There was some suggestion in May about the state pulling money from the transportation budget for school districts to use for busing. However, I did look at the copy of the budget FCUSD submitted in June, and it indicates that busing to the high schools will be cut.

Why is there no information to confirm this? There is less than one month before school will be starting. As a parent, I'd like to know more about what options there are. I would appreciate a way to meet other parents for carpooling opportunities like friends of ours have done for their child who attends Jesuit. Jesuit actually organizes meetings so parents can network to form carpools from various areas. We've only lived here for two years, and I have yet to meet other parents of any kids her age in our immediate neighborhood.

I can get my daughter to school in the morning, but getting her home is going to be a more difficult problem. We live in north Folsom near ARC, so walking really wouldn't be practical. I don't want her walking that sort of distance --especially in inclement weather.

I work at Folsom Middle. I can pick her up most days, but not on Fridays. And if I have a staff meeting or district meeting for the two committees I serve, I won't be able to pick her up then, either. These are commitments I made at the end of last year, so I can't just back out of them.

I checked the Folsom Stage schedule and there is no stop near our house. The closest one is at the Old Folsom light rail station. Is this the best this city can do to support the transportation needs of its families? There are going to be a lot of kids wandering around after school. That doesn't seem like a very good idea.

Couldn't the school district work with public transit to add or extend routes, especially to areas like ours that are at the far edge of the city? There will be riders, because there aren't any school buses, so they'd make money.

I am really frustrated about this. Does anyone else share my concern and frustration?
Pari.

I noticed that comparitively, Folsom is not friendly to working moms.....LACK of bus services, elementary school on-site after-school care spaces (sometimes 2 year wait), same with parks and recreation preschool (used to be a lottery system) and rip-off prices for the aquatic center (thought it was for the public; luckily we have a pool).....You will soon notice that other cities have these amenities and aren't as well-off financially as Folsom.....In most cities, you can just sign-up your child for after school care without a waiting list-WOW, you mean not all Folsom kids have a parent at home to cart them around to their activities???? Also, we have a junior college right in the city and they don't offer any summer school classes for children. In the Los Angeles area, your child can attend a junior college as young as 4th grade and take anything from physics to algebra. The classes are very affordable....THERE is definitely a catch-up factor in Northern California....It's not as progressive as it seems.....I have seen some of my friends having to take their three kids to three different start times at the same school.....Total lack of respect for working parents......I can bet your bottom dollar if you lived in a working class area, the start times would be changed to accomodate parents, or there would be staff on duty to watch the children in the morning on the playground....IMHO!

BTW, biking to school is a SAFETY issue in Folsom...I WOULD NEVER let my child, even a high-schooler ride their bike to school unless it was on a bike path...THERE ARE NEVER any crossing guards or police on the main streets.....WE can't even get a crossing guard at our elementary school for 15 minutes before or after school......I have seen two near misses last year that ended with a child falling off their bike....PARENTS are so distracted by their own kids in the car and getting to work on time, that 90 percent speed....When is the last time you saw anyone drive 25 mph in a 25mph zone??????

[Folsom Guy]

I can get my daughter to school in the morning, but getting her home is going to be a more difficult problem. We live in north Folsom near ARC, so walking really wouldn't be practical. I don't want her walking that sort of distance --especially in inclement weather.

Have you looked into light-rail with some other combination?

[Warren G]

I WOULD NEVER let my child, even a high-schooler ride their bike to school unless it was on a bike path...

That's sad for your deprived kids. How old do kids have to be before they are allowed to drive, because you know, there are car accidents every day.

Teach the kids how to ride safely, and let them have some independence and learn self-reliance. Not to mention the health benefits. People ride bikes throughout Folsom every day, and some people actually enjoy it. The benefits significantly outweigh the risks.

[Warren G]

We live in north Folsom near ARC, so walking really wouldn't be practical. I don't want her walking that sort of distance --especially in inclement weather.

Ride the bike East on Oak to just before the Fire Station, right turn on the abandoned road and continue to Auburn-Folsom or cut through the parking lot to the light at Greenback. Cross Greenback at the light and ride on the walkway across the Natoma bridge. Left then right past the light rail station to end up on the nearly abandoned road that parallels Folsom Blvd on it's east side. Then continue on the smaller roads going towards the high school.

Coming home they could ride to the American River bike trail on the Folsom side, go towards Beal's Point and leave the trail at Oak, then cross A-F at the light and continue to home in the wide bike lanes.

[Revolutionist]

BTW, biking to school is a SAFETY issue in Folsom...I WOULD NEVER let my child, even a high-schooler ride their bike to school unless it was on a bike path...

Really, it's like maybe 3 miles from FHS to FMS. From the FHS, coast downhill on Prairie City, turn right, and its a straight shot up Blue Ravine to FMS - with designated bike-lanes all the way. I think there is a total of 4 intersections, all of them with stoplights and crosswalks.

How sad for your children, that they will become adults and not ever have had to make a responsible decision or take a responsible action. It is not unsafe to ride a bicycle in this town, assuming the rider has a basic grasp of rules and etiquette.

On second thought, how sad for the rest of us. They'll probably grow up thinking that someone owes them bus service, before school care and physics classes at more convenient times.... all paid for by someone else.

[Dave Burrell]

Really, it's like maybe 3 miles from FHS to FMS. From the FHS, coast downhill on Prairie City, turn right, and its a straight shot up Blue Ravine to FMS - with designated bike-lanes all the way. I think there is a total of 4 intersections, all of them with stoplights and crosswalks.

How sad for your children, that they will become adults and not ever have had to make a responsible decision or take a responsible action. It is not unsafe to ride a bicycle in this town, assuming the rider has a basic grasp of rules and etiquette.

On second thought, how sad for the rest of us. They'll probably grow up thinking that someone owes them bus service, before school care and physics classes at more convenient times.... all paid for by someone else.

it is sad indeed

I rode my bike to school since I was in 2nd grade - 2 miles each way and I enjoyed it - it taught me how to be independent and responsible and I think it was a very good experience

my son rode his bike to school every day too

somehow we all managed to live thru it heh

[Robert Gary]

Personally I refuse to drive my kids to school. They're not handicapped so I can't see any good reason to drive them. They have perfectly good legs. They have bikes, skate boards, razers, and shoes. Why do they need a lemo ride school?
When I was a kid I wouldn't let my parents drive me to school if they wanted to. I liked the freedom to go myself. I liked being able to stay a bit after with my friends if I wanted to, etc. Today kids have too much "structured" time and don't know how to just hang out with friends anymore.

-Robert

[Robert Gary]

IBTW, biking to school is a SAFETY issue in Folsom...I WOULD NEVER let my child, even a high-schooler ride their bike to school unless it was on a bike path...

Its odd that today we believe the world is so dangerous despire the fact that the stats don't seem to agree with that. The TV has taught us to be afraid every minute our kids are out of our sight. Its really a disservice to the kids.

THERE ARE NEVER any crossing guards or police on the main streets.....WE can't even get a crossing guard at our elementary school for 15 minutes before or after school......

As I recall the crossing guards were always parents volunteering. Why don't you volunteer to be a crossing guard?

[ChipShot]

That's sad for your deprived kids.

Soft, doughy, coddled kids grow up to be soft, doughy, lazy adults.

No offense.

[Darth Lefty]

Back in your day, you had to ride a circus bear bike 20 miles uphill both ways in the snow, right?

I'm with the "stop coddling" crowd too. If by 9th grade your kid has not figured out how to avoid traffic, what the heck? And this town is awesome for bicycles most of the year.