On WPHS school buses, teenagers sit perched at the very edge of their seats – a result of being told three people can fit on one bus seat. The less fortunate resort to sitting on the floor, causing the bus to come to a complete halt. Only when these students find seating does the bus begin to move again.

It is unclear why seating has become such an issue as of late. WPHS points to students sneaking onto different buses: to prevent this, students must check in with their ID before entering. This logs the number of students who enter the bus. But why students would sneak onto different buses in the morning—a time when I find that seating is sparsest—makes little sense. Sneaking onto other buses is usually a way to join a friend after school. Would a teenager really go out of their way and walk to a farther bus stop just so they could meet with friends? Even if students were sneaking onto different buses, there is little the driver can do. Kicking a kid out into the freezing cold doesn’t seem ethical, and they can just show up again the next day.

A definite cause of the seating shortage is the students themselves. Reserving spots for friends is no longer possible in such crowded circumstances. If I see a backpack sitting next to you, I will just move it. Students should be conscientious of their peers; especially when they face reprimands if they remain standing.

It’s important to note that not all buses have this issue. After doing further research, I have learned that some students do not face overcrowded buses. However, it’s enough buses to be a real issue. Even if the problem is not across the board, White Plains High School still needs to address it.