Despite the sizable literature on school transportation, little information exists about the social and intellectual implications of long bus rides for students and families or the possible negative consequences of school bus rides. This study examined the nature and experience of riding the school bus in rural as compared to suburban locales in…

This report provides the first detailed picture of the features of the rural school bus ride. Data were provided by principals in 696 rural elementary schools in Arkansas, Georgia, New Mexico, Pennsylvania, and Washington--states chosen to represent diversity in region, locale, and ethnic composition. The literature commonly cites 30 minutes as…