- 106 riders96 fifth graders, 10 chaperones
- 2 full-size coaches56 seats each
- About 8 mileseach way
A science field trip to the Jones Beach Energy & Nature Center
The school asked for one bus. With 106 people, one bus was never going to happen, so the question became two coaches or three smaller vehicles. Two coaches won: the school has a proper bus loop, and the nature center is reached by the bus-legal southern Meadowbrook, so a big vehicle is no handicap on either end.
We staggered the coaches by five minutes so they never blocked the loop together, assigned each class to a numbered bus, and gave both chaperone leads the drivers' cell numbers. Departure was 9:20 after morning arrival; the return was set for 1:45 to beat dismissal traffic at the school.
The Freeport detail: the teacher's map app showed a route north to the Southern State. Neither coach could take it. Planning the Merrick Road to southern Meadowbrook route in advance kept the ride at about 20 minutes. Parents got the plan through our field trip guide for parents.