Should There Be a Minimum Age to Ride the Bus Unsupervised?

In a controversy that recalls the ongoing debate about "free range children," B.C.'s Ministry of Children and Family Development is telling one family that their kids aren't old enough to ride the bus alone.

1 minute read

September 10, 2017, 1:00 PM PDT

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


Kid on Bus

Tribute/ Homenaje / flickr

"A father of five from Vancouver is speaking out after being told his children can't ride public transit together without adult supervision," report John Woodward and Andrew Weichel.

According to the article, "B.C.'s Ministry of Children and Family Development received an anonymous complaint that his kids were unsupervised." Now they've gone so far as to tell him that his kids require supervision. "Crook, who runs a blog on parenting called 5 Kids 1 Condo, said he was told children under 10 should not take the bus – or go anywhere outside the home – at any time of day without adult accompaniment," adds the article.

The article notes that driving is proven to be dangerous, and mush more likely to infure or kill children than transit. "Between 2009 and 2013, 106 Canadian children died in private vehicles," report Woodward and Weichel. "None died on buses over the same time frame."

Tuesday, September 5, 2017 in CTV News Vancouver

Sweeping view of Portland, Oregon with Mt. Hood in background against sunset sky.

Oregon Passes Exemption to Urban Growth Boundary

Cities have a one-time chance to acquire new land for development in a bid to increase housing supply and affordability.

March 12, 2024 - Housing Wire

Aerial view of green roofs with plants in Sydney, Australia.

Where Urban Design Is Headed in 2024

A forecast of likely trends in urban design and architecture.

March 10, 2024 - Daily Journal of Commerce

Cobblestone street with streetcar line, row of vintage streetlights on left, and colorful restaurant and shop awnings on right on River Street in Savannah, Georgia.

Savannah: A City of Planning Contrasts

From a human-scales, plaza-anchored grid to suburban sprawl, the oldest planned city in the United States has seen wildly different development patterns.

March 12, 2024 - Strong Towns

Aerial View of Chuckanut Drive and the Blanchard Bridge in the Skagit Valley.

Washington Tribes Receive Resilience Funding

The 28 grants support projects including relocation efforts as coastal communities face the growing impacts of climate change.

March 18 - The Seattle Times

Historic buildings in downtown Los Angeles with large "Pan American Lofts" sign on side of building.

Adaptive Reuse Bills Introduced in California Assembly

The legislation would expand eligibility for economic incentives and let cities loosen regulations to allow for more building conversions.

March 18 - Beverly Press

View from above of swan-shaped paddleboats with lights on around artesian fountain in Echo Park Lake with downtown Los Angeles skylien in background at twilight.

LA's Top Parks, Ranked

TimeOut just released its list of the top 26 parks in the L.A. area, which is home to some of the best green spaces around.

March 18 - TimeOut

News from HUD User

HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research

Call for Speakers

Mpact Transit + Community

New Updates on PD&R Edge

HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research

Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.

Planning for Universal Design

Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.