Metro gives kids a ticket to ride

PRIMARY school students making the big transition to Taroona High School will have one less thing to worry about with the launch of a program delivering bus travel training to students.

Metro Tasmania is partnering with Taroona High School and its feeder primary schools to educate next year’s Grade 7 students on public transport use, safety, and appropriate behaviour.

The program, which is under way, is familiarising students with how to use buses and find their stop in the Hobart City interchange using tailored resources, presentations from Metro training staff, and guided realworld practice opportunities.

Taroona High School assistant principal Michelle Andrews said most students were able to walk to primary school, and catching the bus was a new experience for many.

“Some of the feedback from students transitioning to Taroona was that they were worried about buses, so we needed to do something about it,” Ms Andrews said.

“This program has been a way to connect Grade 6 kids with some future leaders at Taroona High.

“We’ve taken our senior students out to the primary schools, and they’ve spoken to students as well as the Metro drivers.”

Metro chief executive Megan Morse said the initiative was giving students and families an opportunity to become familiar with Metro, and develop the knowledge, skills and attitudes to make informed and safe decisions.