Children Experience School Bus Safety in Thunder Bay’s First Rider Program

Thunder Bay’s 32nd annual First Rider program launched on Saturday, providing children an opportunity to familiarize themselves with the school bus experience ahead of the upcoming academic year. The initiative, which began in 1994, has been instrumental in instilling safety practices among young riders and is seeing a resurgence in participation post-pandemic.

Resurgence in Attendance

According to Craig Murphy, Manager of the Student Transportation Services of Thunder Bay Consortium, nearly 400 children registered for this year’s program, marking a significant recovery as numbers approach pre-pandemic levels. “We are very happy to be able to continue this tradition,” he stated. “Prior to the pandemic, we would see roughly between 450 to 500 children come through the program. Our attendance has steadily been increasing since we experienced a significant drop of as much as 50 percent during the pandemic.”

The First Rider program is designed to mitigate the anxiety many children face on their first day of school. Participants engage in a hands-on experience, exploring the bus and learning essential safety protocols. “They get to go on a bus ride around the college campus here and experience how to ride a bus while we have instructors on the bus to talk to them about school bus safety,” Murphy explained. This initiative aims to ease apprehension for both children and parents.

Community Impact and Feedback

Thunder Bay was one of the first regions in Ontario to implement the First Rider program, a fact that the community takes pride in. Murphy noted the importance of instilling safety practices before children board the bus for the first time. “It is very important that we give that opportunity, and we want their bus ride to be as enjoyable as possible,” he said. The program allows children to have fun while learning, reinforcing the idea that safety is paramount.

The joy of the program was evident as children exited the bus, often leaping into the arms of their parents with smiles on their faces. “That just tells us right there that it’s worthwhile,” Murphy remarked. “They get on the bus, not sure what to expect, and then come off very excited.”

Longtime bus driver Edith Tivendale, who has been involved with the First Rider program for 30 years, expressed her enthusiasm for the initiative. “This program is wonderful. The little kids get to go, and get on the bus and get the big certificate that says they passed, and then they get a treat,” she said. “It’s just been a great thing.”

Parents also shared positive experiences. Hillary Sparkes, who attended the program with her son, Graham, noted that it helped ease his nerves about riding the bus. “We loved it. We thought it was so great because he was a little nervous at first, so this was a great experience for him to check out the buses and get comfortable with them.”

The enthusiasm surrounding the First Rider program reflects its significant role in the Thunder Bay community. As this year’s event demonstrates, the combination of education and fun continues to make a lasting impact on young students and their families.