(Aug. 22, 2008) — The American School Bus Council is ready to spread the word: “Eighty-seven percent of parents in the United States agree that the school bus is the only reliable form of transportation for many students, and without it, the ability of all students to access the education system is limited.” This is according to a new study by the council that is driving its efforts forward into the new school year. 

The results of the survey showed that parents also understand the effect of rising fuel prices, with 69 percent agreeing that is it more beneficial for their children to ride the bus to save money. Over 50 percent of the responders strongly disagreed with cutting bus stops or bus service as a way for school districts to deal with the increasing fuel costs.The ASBC also used this opportunity to champion the industry's benefits to the enviroment, estimating that a teenager who drives 5 miles to get to school can reduce their carbon footprint from 1.27 tons of carbon dioxide to 0.12 tons by taking the bus.

The next step in this ongoing process of rallying behind the school bus industry will take the form of a webinar on Sept. 4 at 4 p.m. EDT. Anyone who would like to attend can register online. The American School Bus Council has further cemented its efforts now, with not only the three major school bus OEMs at the table, but also the leadership of NAPT, NASDPTS and NSTA all working collectively on this revamped endeavor.