Since 2015, the Westridge Los Feliz/Silverlake bus routes have picked up students every day and created a small community on the road. While 40 to 50 students are enrolled to take the Los Feliz/Silverlake bus, the bus normally consists of approximately 25 students a day riding in the morning and 20 in the afternoon. Unlike in previous years, this year’s bus has faced multiple issues regarding the mechanics and sizing leaving students frustrated.

In the first week of the 2024-25 school year, the original bus broke down due to mechanical issues. The replacement was a smaller and tighter version compared to the spacious bus students rode in previous years. Micaela R. ’26 explained how when she took the bus in Lower and Middle School she never experienced the same issues the bus has had this past year. “We never had to sit with people we didn’t want to sit with. We had bigger seats, or a bigger bus, meaning people could take up rows and be fine,” she said.

Throughout the year, students wondered where their old bus went. Business Officer Coordinator and Westridge Bus Coordinator Danica Bourgault explained the issues of returning the original bus due to a nationwide shortage of bus parts, according to bus organization First Student.

The ratio of students to seats on the smaller bus has left students feeling uncomfortable during their commute. Freshman Micki M. has been riding the bus since 4th grade and is frustrated with the new ratio. “When there’s a lot of people, [the bus] can get really loud and crowded, and it’s less fun for me to take the bus,” she said.

Junior Fin C. added, “On the early bus, every single seat is filled up, like two people each seat, so if like one more person came [on the bus] there would be no seat for them.”

With the new adjustment, Michelle Zinzun, the bus driver, requested an overflow bus to ensure all students had transportation to campus. Every morning, a smaller bus meets at the Silverlake bus stop in case there are more students than seats. The overflow bus has been utilized 1-3 times a week. Due to the nationwide shortage of bus parts, First Student is not charging Westridge for the additional bus.

While the overflow bus has not been a factor to the bus tuition, every year the bus tuition increases slightly due to bus companies constantly increasing their charge. For the 2024-25 school year, the bus fare for a round trip was $3,100 and one way $1,500, an increase of $150 compared to last year’s tuition. “We try to keep [the bus tuition] manageable for the families, and we do the best that we can, but sometimes we have to increase a little bit,” Ms. Bourgault said. 

Freshman Skylar R. noted that her family did not want her to take the bus this year due to the increase. Now, with the smaller bus, she is even more frustrated. “My parents didn’t want us to take the bus because [the tuition] was just so expensive,” she said. “Now that the bus is smaller, I just don’t understand why that would be happening,”

Ms. Bourgault highlighted the importance of offering the bus service for Westridge families. “Offering the bus service is something that we do to help the families, and I try to be as welcoming to new families and existing families,” she said. “If [families] have any questions, just feel free to call me and email me. I try to work with the parents and the students as much as I can.”

As the year comes to an end, students hope for a more comfortable and spacious bus in the next academic year. When asked for future goals in the 2025-26 school year, Ms. Bourgault said, “We’re hoping to get a bigger bus.”