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Article published Dec 18, 2003
Ryberg bill would alter bus routes
ROBERT W. DALTON
Staff Writer
State Sen. Greg Ryberg
says he doesn't want any more children to risk their lives to catch a school
bus.Ryberg, R-Aiken and chairman of the Senate transportation committee, has
pre-filed a bill that would require school districts to design bus routes so
that children do not have to cross any public or private road.Ryberg said he
filed the bill in response to the Dec. 5 death of Kelsey Gossett, a 9-year-old
fourth-grader at Carlisle-Foster's Grove Elementary School. She died after a car
hit her as she crossed Parris Bridge Road to board her bus.The Legislature
passed a law a year ago requiring routes to be designed so that children would
not have to cross multi-lane highways. Ryberg said he thought the law covered
two-lane roads as well."When I was informed about (Gossett's) death, I wondered
why we were having crossovers for two-lane roads. I thought that was taken care
of," Ryberg said.Wayne Chamblee, assistant superintendent for finance and
operations in Spartanburg School District 2, which includes Carlisle-Foster's
Grove Elementary, said he believes Ryberg's bill is noble, but unworkable."There
are certain roads buses can't go down because they can't turnaround, such as a
cul-de-sac situation," Chamblee said. "It could double some route times, and
we're already starting before daylight on some routes."I think it would be
better to say that no vehicle could pass a bus on a two-lane road."Ryberg said
he didn't understand how the bill could be unworkable."If they can assure on
four-lane roads that kids can be picked up and let off without having to cross
over, they can do the same thing on two-lane roads," Ryberg said. "I don't think
it's going to be easy. But human life is worth something, and it's certainly
worth a little work."Sen. John Hawkins, R-Spartanburg, is a member of the
transportation committee. He said providing the highest degree of safety is of
the utmost importance, but that he wants to hear from the school districts
before deciding whether he would support the bill."It may very well improve
safety, which is the reason it deserves consideration," Hawkins said. "But we
have to look at it from all angles to make the determination if we can actually
afford it."It could have the unintended consequence of creating even more of a
school bus shortage. We need to go slow and hear from Senator Ryberg as to why
he thinks this is necessary and how it can be practical."Sen. Jim Ritchie,
R-Spartanburg and also a transportation committee member, said the bill could
create new safety hazards."It would mean more kids being picked up in the dark
because we'd have to start earlier, and it could mean more buses on the road,"
Ritchie said. "It's an important goal, but we have to look at the practical
application."Dorothy Gossett, Kelsey Gossett's grandmother, said she hopes the
Legislature will get behind Ryberg's bill."Children need to be protected," she
said. "If there's a way that they wouldn't have to go across a road to catch the
bus, then that would be a good law."Robert W. Dalton can be reached at 562-7223
or bob.dalton@shj.com.