First Ride program teaches new school kids school bus safety

Kids who are about to enter kindergarten got a sample of what to expect Wednesday at the First Ride program.

For the third year in a row, the Regina public and Catholic school divisions put on the First Ride program, which hopes to get kids less anxious about riding the school bus.

The event, showcased outside Evraz Place, is also partnered with CAA, the Saskatchewan Safety Council, SGI and the Regina Police Service to teach the importance of traffic safety to little kids.

Madelaine Michell, the communications co-ordinator with CAA and head of the school safety program for Saskatchewan, said the lessons hoped to promote ‘think, look and listen’ to the kids.

Exercises included having the kids walk, jog and sprint to demonstrate how a faster object is slower at stopping, and a mock intersection to teach them to listen carefully.

Charlen Miller, Regina Public School’s transportation supervisor, said it’s important to get kids used to riding the bus alone and away from their parents. The goal also is to teach the kids the rules of the road.

Elena Chase, the Regina Catholic School Division’s transportation officer, stressed the program is to teach safety on the road and on the sidewalk.

“We have seen a huge decline in parents driving the students, so that (creates) less vehicles in front of our schools,” Chase said. “It is much safer in a bus than it is in a car. It also decreases the students’ social anxiety and builds their social skills.”

Parents weren’t allowed on the school buses to get kids used to the experience, with just a driver and attendants to help in the bus.

Eight buses were at the event for kids to tour and get used to.

“I’m excited to see what it looks like on the inside,” said one little boy. “I think it looks like my own school bus.”

Casey Riffel brought his little boy Theo to the program, and appreciated the ability to get traffic safety across to little kids.

“I don’t know how you can teach them to learn to cross the road,” Casey said. “They don’t always listen to their parents so someone else telling them is good.”

As the school year rapidly approaches, Chase said it’s more important than ever to have kids learn proper safety.

“A lot of the stops within the city now, for both the Catholic and public, are not in front of students’ homes,” she said. “So it’s really important we work with our students so they understand how to get to a bus stop, and how to cross the street if they have to do so.”