http://www.portsmouth.co.uk/travel-latest/...llow.4092368.jp

"No green light for yellow buses




16 May 2008
By Mary Griffin
Political reporter
A FLEET of American-style yellow school buses earmarked for Hampshire has been scrapped by the government – for being unimaginative.
Hampshire County Council proposed the plan when the government invited bids for schemes to ease school-run congestion.
But the Department of Transport has knocked back all 23 proposals from councils across the country, saying not one was innovative enough.

Councillor Mel Kendal, who is responsible for transport at the council, said: 'It seems they've rejected the plan simply because we haven't developed a new kind of rocket to go to the moon.
'This is a devastating response that reduces your confidence in the system.'
The council wanted a fleet of 15 yellow buses to take children to school in five areas across the county – including Havant and East Hampshire, which were earmarked for three buses each.
The buses would serve primary and secondary schools for £1 return.
Hampshire would have been given £200,000 to plan the scheme and then £6m over four years to run it.
As well as promoting cycling and walking, the council planned to give students travel information packs, and develop a real-time tracking system to monitor the buses as they go.
Although the plans failed to impress the government, councillors still believe Hampshire could learn from America.
Deputy leader Michael Woodhall said: 'There are 50m students in America. Twenty six million go to school on the school bus, while 24m get there some other way."

I walked to school, and walked home, and in my neighborhood THAT took more imagination than you would like to think!!

When I was very small we'd go with my older siblings to meet the bus in the morning and my mom would say, "here comes the big yellow monster! The big yellow monster's here to gobble up the kids!"

By the time I started school I was TERRIFIED of school buses!

Woohoo. We should have bright pink school buses!