Green Daily

How can regular teenagers save the environment?

The National Association for Pupil Transportation in Albany, New York thinks they should ride the school bus. Yep, the big cheese.

Officials say it's the safest, greenest way to get to school, and that kids should ride the bus instead of driving themselves to school. They are urging teens to take the bus even once a week to cut down on traffic jams, pollution, and potential accidents.


But school buses aren't exactly the most environmentally-friendly vehicles on the road. Ever get stuck behind one while in your car - or, worse - on your bike? You practically need a gas mask. And the school bus isn't exactly fun. I remember the bus in high school: it was defined by screaming, spitball-spewing bullies and jaded, nasty bus drivers, and the very minute my friends could drive to school, I jumped at the chance.

It's great that the association is touting green habits. But I highly doubt that teens are really going to abandon their cars and freedom to hop back on the nerdy school bus. Perhaps officials should suggest that teens carpool to school to save on gas, or at least provide a few "upperclassmen-only" buses to make the option a little more appealing.