Muhammad Amanullah
Date: September 26, 2026 The True Post (Web News) —A change to a school bus route in Ajax, Ontario, has left parents deeply concerned, with some saying their children are now spending more than two hours travelling by bus every day.
Parents say the longer commute is leaving students exhausted when they return home and is affecting their studies, sleep and participation in extracurricular activities.
Students Experiencing Severe Fatigue
Ajax resident Ryan Schuler said his 14-year-old son has become so tired because of the lengthy bus journey that he has stopped participating in extracurricular activities.
Schuler said his son recently told him that he had slept for only about five hours the previous night, which his father believes is not enough for a 14-year-old.
According to Schuler, the combination of five consecutive days of school and lengthy bus journeys has left his son extremely tired. He said the teenager tries to make up for lost sleep by sleeping longer than usual on weekends.
School Starts at 8 a.m.
Parents say the problem is not limited to the afternoon journey home. Students also have to leave home very early in the morning.
Schuler said his son’s school begins at 8 a.m., meaning the teenager has to board the bus before 7 a.m.
Parents argue that such a long daily commute can affect children’s sleep, schoolwork and normal daily routines.
Bus Journey Was Previously Reduced
Parents are particularly frustrated because similar concerns had already been raised about the bus route last year.
They say the travel time was previously reduced to approximately 40 to 50 minutes after concerns were raised.
Parents now say they do not understand why the route was changed again this school year in a way that has resulted in journeys lasting more than two hours.
They estimate that approximately 40 to 50 students enrolled in a special education program are being affected by the change.
Special Education Students Affected
The students attend a special education program at Pickering High School, which has a different start time from other students.
Parents say these students already face additional educational and day-to-day challenges, and the lengthy bus commute is creating further difficulties for them.
Mirna Simpson has twin children in Grade 11 who use the same bus every day. She said the lengthy commute is also affecting the children’s mental well-being.
Parents Say They Have Not Received Adequate Answers
Parents say they have repeatedly contacted the relevant authorities with questions about the bus route change and how transportation routes are reviewed, but they have not received satisfactory answers.
Christine Keynes said parents have had to contact different people simply to draw attention to the issue affecting their children.
She said parents were not asking for anything unusual and simply wanted the situation to be taken seriously.
According to Keynes, parents have repeatedly requested that something be done, but they have yet to receive an adequate response.
Transportation Service Explains Route Change
Durham Student Transportation Services said the route was changed because of the special program at Pickering High School.
The transportation service said a limited number of students from south Ajax attend the special program at the school.
The organization said it remains committed to providing safe and effective transportation for all eligible students and regularly reviews available options to reduce bus travel times.
Most Students Have Shorter Bus Journeys
According to the transportation service, most students using Durham Student Transportation Services spend less than 20 minutes on their bus journey.
The organization said only 0.2 per cent of students have bus trips lasting more than 60 minutes.
Parents, however, say the situation faced by their children is different because students enrolled in the special education program are currently spending significantly longer periods travelling by bus every day.
Questions Raised About Provincial Funding
Ajax Liberal MPP Rob Cerjanec has also expressed support for the parents’ concerns and said he is raising the issue with the relevant authorities.
According to Cerjanec, one of the underlying issues is that the provincial government does not provide as much funding for student transportation as is needed.
He said this can leave school boards facing difficult decisions, with the impact ultimately being felt by students and their parents.
Parents Plan to Contact Education Ministry
Parents say they do not intend to remain silent and will continue seeking clarification about the changes to the bus route.
One parent said she also plans to contact Ontario’s Ministry of Education to find out what steps can be taken at the provincial level to address the issue.
The parents’ main request is for the lengthy travel times to be reviewed and for arrangements to be made so students enrolled in the special education program do not have to spend more than two hours travelling by bus every day.
