Last night, a new policy regarding all the district’s bus companies has been introduced at the BOE meeting, which would place a limit on the amount of complaints allowed over a specific period of time, and would automatically trigger a County hearing if that limit was crossed.
The policy, introduced by BOE Chesky Seitler, would limit the amount of complaints to 10 over a 60 day period. If any company surpasses the limit, it will automatically trigger a County hearing to discuss further action.
Furthermore, the District has posted information on their website this morning, with the details how one can file a complaint with the Transportation Dept.
At one point, Mr Seitler asked the Administration to post the details so that people will call the correct department and not the board members.
At last night’s meeting, the BOE again voted to deny further contracts to the bus company in question, as was done last week.
The broader issue with the busing in Lakewood was addressed as well.
Mr. Hobday – a member of the Enclave Senior Community – got up to speak, and detailed some serious traffic safety issues with a specific bus company.
It was at that point that the Board member suggested that the new policy be introduced.
The new policy will be voted on later next month.
Aha.. So if want to make life miserable for any specific bus company (or I’m just plain disgruntled), all I would need to do is get 10 people to call and complain in a period of 2 months..
I think I’m gonna have lots of fun with this!!!!!
Somebody should sit on Finchley Blvd. and watch the bus driver that comes barreling down the street between 7:35 – 7:40 am. This morning he came from behind a bus that had it’s yellow blinking lights on and almost hit the little girl and her mother trying to get on the bus. Then he almost hit me didn’t even bother to slow down.
Bill Hobday lives in The Fairways that is across the street from The Enclave.
Any moron can now effectively have any bus company shut down.
How did they decide that 10 complaints in 60 days is a significant number?
Did they consult with anybody to see if that makes sense or are they experts on their own accord?
Why dont they implement an accountibility program where if a bus does not show up for a run the company should be penalized. There should also be access to the gps info on each bus so i dont have to wonder if my cilds bus is coming .
This info could help with the accountibilty where we would be able to tell if a bus completed its route and when.
The number that was mentioned, was an example. It was clearly said in the meeting that the final number will be through consultation. furthermore, any complaint will need to be verified before it is counted as a complaint
gr8 so one company will complain about the other and get the other sent to county hearing OH YEA!
Why can’t we get real-time updates exactly where the busses are everyday? It would be alot easier for us parents than to stand and wait without knowing when our bus will be here.
Instead of a set number of complaints allowed during a time period, wouldn’t it make sense for it to be based on the Qty of runs a company does? (ie. 1 complaint per run per month).
My children are grown and done with school..but I have to put my 2 cents in here. This is a ridiculous idea.there has to be a better way. I do see buses driving like maniacs.. but this solution is not the answer. There are to many holes in it. Put your heads together and come up with another alternative. I’m sure if you try hard enough you can do it.
After reading this story i decided to go to njmvc and find out what else is going on in lakewood……..click on inspections then school bus. Type in the name of any company serving lakewood.For the larger companies you will have to locate the lakewood bus terminal by address. Apparently its is not just one company who fails safety inspections.Really shocking!
There should be strict consequences for busses being late or not showing up. For example every missed run equals 3 days docked pay that would give some incentive$ for the to fulfil their contractual obligations my sons bus contantly does not show up.
CALL T HE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND SPECIFICALLY TRAFFIC AND SAFETY. NOTIFY THEM OF THE PLACE AND TIME THE BUS USUALY IS IN THE AREA.
GET ALL YOU NEIGHBORS TO CALL ABOUT THE SAME ISSUE – IF THERE IS ONE.
YOU COULD ALSO WRITE A CIVILIAN TICKET AGAINST THE BUS DRIVER AND COMPANY.
YOU WOULD HAVE TO SHOW UP IN COURT.
A VIDEO WOULD DO WONDERS.
MAYBE WE SHOULD START TAKING VIDEO TO POST ON THE LAKEWOODSCOOP.COM WITH THE COMPANY AND BUS NUMBER , TIME AND LOCATION. TRUST THE BUS DRIVERS WILL THEN SLOW DOWN.
WE ALSO NEED TO GET OUR KIDS TO SIT DOWN ON THE BUS. THE LAW IS – NO BUS MAY OPERATE IF A CHILD IS NOT SITTING..
The complaint that Bill Hobday mentioned was from the same bus company in question
This is so stupid. Why send problems up the bureaucratic ladder? There they will never get settled. If we have problems, we ned to deal with them ourselves.
Many have alot of routes…. and many stops.. It doesn’t give them a right to speed or run red lights like many of them to on Route 9, Pine Street, Forest, and County Line. The solution is centralized pick-ups not taking every kid to their door.
every bus should have a buiolt in camera and gps so at the end of each month we can see what goes on and see if the driver speeds based on the gps in real time . its so simple to implement
If each school were able to choose their bus company the entire problem could be alleviated. Let each school deal with the complaints and decide which company is best for them. If they do not like the way a bus company is run, let them fire them. Let them decide the routes, not some computer that has no understanding of the needs of the children. These problems were not caused by the bus company itself. Many of the problems arose due to the lack of communication between the school district, private schools and parents.This latest proposed idea from our LAC/BOE members will cause more red tape, and more issues, that will take away from the ultimate goal of the BOE. Educating the children that want to learn, in the best possible way, while eliminating waste, corruption, and incompetence, should be that goal. Hopefully at the next BOE election we can vote for people that can get the job done.
These bus companies think that when they take on a bus route it is voluntary.
This is way to funny for me I lived in this town for 40 years seen so much I can cry from what has happened to this town only 11 years ago we were just fighting to have separate buses from boys n girls osborne VS lakewood boe why can’t we just be happy with what we have we are in golis we don not run this country nor town we must understand that.
Come on people lets get REAL HERE,,,So yes you are telling me that anyone can call if they want and cause problems for OTHER DRIVERS AND COMPANYS after 10 or so complaints you will DO Something,GIVVVVVVEEEEE ME a BREAK ,SO WHAT ? MY CHILD MAY BE MOLESTED or SOmething BY A DRIVER AND ITTTTT WILL TAKE 10 COMPLAINTS OR MORE BEFORE SOMETHING IS DONE? I THINK NOT ,IT SHOULD BE BASED ON THE URGENCY OF THE COMPLAINT, HELLLLLLOOOOOOO SO lets STICK to the FACTS ,THERE IS A CO. OUT THERE WHOM DAH WE ALL KNOW WHO IT IS, AND NOW WE ALL PAY , BUT IF YOUR NOT DOING ANYTHING WRONG YOU SHOULDNT HAVE TO WORRY .
oh this is just great, now any parent who doesn’t like that a bus driver won’t pick up their “little angel” at the front door instead of the corner with everyone else can call and complain. We as bus driver’s are TOLD by the board NO house stops, it is corner to corner, if you have a problem with that you have to take it up with the board not the driver, we have a job to do so let us do it , and there are certain streets that we ARE NOT supposed to go into , and yes I have seen other companies who do it, but I myself am a dedicated and responsible driver who values the precious cargo that I am carrying will not go where I am not supposed to until the board deems it safe.