Nearly three-quarters of Cayman parents believe schools should provide transportation for students, according to a new survey by the Ministry of Transport.
Very few students currently use school buses, however, with 94% of parents surveyed indicating that their children did not use such services.
Parents were divided on whether school-bus use should be made mandatory, with 40% supporting such a measure and 60% opposing it.
The transportation survey, distributed in September to all schools in Grand Cayman and Cayman Brac, including early childhood education centres, received 791 responses, primarily from parents of private-school students.
“The goal was to gain deeper insights into how school traffic impacts congestion, overall commuter behaviour during peak hours, and potential solutions to alleviate the growing strain on the roads,” the ministry said in a press release.
The survey found what many commuters in Cayman suspect – that school schedules significantly contribute to traffic issues.
The survey found that 63% of parents leave for school or work between 7am and 8am, making this the busiest travel period. After school drop-offs, 79% of parents continue directly to work.
The afternoon commute sees two traffic peaks – from 3-5pm, when 41% of parents return home, and from 5-7pm when 50% return home.
During school breaks, when Cayman’s roads enjoy notably reduced congestion, just under half of parents said they “work as usual”.
Every family surveyed used at least one car for school travel, while 44% used more than one vehicle.
Many, however, were willing to pay an additional fee for transport services by schools and 74% supported staggered school start and end times, which could reduce traffic stress during peak hours.
For parents who had access to a bus service but did not use it, 61% cited scheduling conflicts as a barrier. Other issues included convenience, reliability and safety.
“While improving transportation in Cayman is a complex issue that extends beyond school traffic, it is evident that school drop-offs and pick-ups create significant choke points in the morning and afternoon rush hours,” said Tristan Hydes, the ministry’s deputy chief officer, in the press release.
“The strong response to this survey highlights how much parents are invested in finding solutions, and we are encouraged by the willingness to explore new, innovative approaches to ease congestion for all commuters.”
The ministry said it is evaluating potential solutions, including enhancing school bus services, piloting staggered school schedules and developing alternative commuting options.
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