Transit Education

Valley Metro's Transit Education Programs
Teach You Skills for a Lifetime

School Outreach | Classroom Presentations | Group Field Trips
Tips for Valley Metro Field Trips | Fun Bus STUFF for Kids! | Contact Us

Cool Bus STUFF Contest

Design a Bus Wrap!

Attention high school students! Enter Valley Metro’s Design a Bus Wrap contest and show off your artistic talents. You may win fun prizes and the top design will be on a Valley Metro bus that travels the streets of our valley for a year!  See the Student Brochure and Application Form for details.

• Calling All Teachers flyer
• Brochure and application form
• Template

Community Outreach

Valley Metro conducts transit education programs for community groups. We provide information and training to promote independence, transportation choices and knowledge to travel on Valley Metro. We present to a variety of audiences including senior citizens, persons with disabilities, refugee organizations, social services and other related organizations.

We can also provide transit information and assistance at your next community event. Contact us for more information.

School Outreach

Valley Metro's school outreach program is designed to introduce students and teachers to their transit system. By building a positive attitude toward public transit, we also present students with ideas on how to be safe and knowledgeable bus riders.

The program consists of presentations about the Valley Metro transit system and field trips using local bus service. Valley Metro assists school groups traveling to and from the many educational places and events that our Valley offers.

Classroom Presentations

Our transit education coordinators conduct free presentations in the classroom to help your group become more familiar with public transportation. Classroom presentations are tailored to your group and offer students and teachers an opportunity to learn about transportation choices and how to safely travel on the Valley Metro bus. We leave behind various fun and educational materials for students and a teacher's packet full of useful transit tips.

Before your first Valley Metro bus trip with your group call the transit education coordinators to schedule a classroom presentation. Or schedule a classroom presentation with the field trip coordinator at the time you are planning your group bus trip.

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Group Field Trips on Valley Metro

By using Valley Metro local buses for school field trips, your students are also learning important life skills. Let our field trip coordinator organize your next group trip on the local routes, and provide you with an itinerary and other information to help with the ride. A “Free Group Field Trip All Day Pass” (Free Pass) is also available to eligible preschool through 8th grade groups.

Groups eligible for a Free Pass

Preschool, elementary or junior high students traveling with their teachers, as well as special needs high school students are eligible.

Guidelines for Using the Free Pass

• Group size is a maximum of 35 people per bus, including students and adults;
• One-week advance notice is necessary for the Free Pass, though two weeks is preferable; and
• Although your group can use the bus for field trips at any time, the Free Pass can only be used between 8:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Under most circumstances, we can comfortably accommodate groups of 35 or less on a local city bus during the times that school groups travel. We will assist larger groups by staggering travel times, or plan for alternate routing. Valley Metro tries to coordinate group trips so that not more than one group rides on the same bus. We do this to help your trip go smoothly and to ease overcrowding. You can also help by following the instructions included in your field trip itinerary.

Group trips are scheduled according to space availability on a first-come, first-served basis. We cannot make route or schedule changes, or provide additional buses for field trips, but we will make every possible effort to address a group's needs.

Tips for Valley Metro Field Trips

Planning for your Valley Metro bus trip:

• Coordinate your travel plans with our field trip coordinator as soon as possible, preferably two to three weeks in advance. (Remember to contact us at least one week in advance if you would like to receive a Free Pass.) Our field trip coordinator will help set up your itinerary and send you a Free Pass if your group qualifies.
• We also recommend that you schedule a free classroom presentation.

School Field Trip Itinerary Request Form

Day of your Valley Metro bus trip:

Following these simple steps will help your trip go smoothly:

• Get to the bus stop at least five minutes before the bus is scheduled to arrive.
• Make sure your group is waiting in the "Safe Zone," a safe distance from the curb and street.
• When the bus pulls up, confirm that it's the bus you want to board by checking the sign above the windshield.
• Upon boarding, show the operator your Free Pass and tell him or her how many are in your group.
• If your group will not be using this pass, have the exact bus fares ready to deposit in the farebox. To expedite boarding, please arrange for one adult to deposit the fares for everyone in your group. If your group will be transferring to another bus, ask the operator for a group transfer when you deposit the fares.
• Assist your group in finding seats quickly. If you have to stand, hold onto the handrails.
• Encourage your group to observe good bus etiquette, so all passengers can enjoy the ride.
• Watch for your bus stop and signal the operator a couple of blocks before you reach it.
• When possible, exit through the back doors, then move quickly into the "Safe Zone."

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Fun Bus Stuff for Kids

Let's Ride The Bus! Coloring Book [543K PDF]- Designed to help young children understand the basics of riding the bus, this unique learning tool is targeted for preschoolers through first graders. Let our future bus riders color while they learn the safety rules for riding a Valley Metro bus! (Requires Adobe Acrobat Reader. If you don't have Acrobat Reader, you may download it free from Adobe's website.)
Optional Let's Ride The Bus black and white front cover
Optional Let's Ride The Bus black and white back cover

Valley Metro: Decide to Ride Because It's Smart!
3rd Annual Cool Bus STUFF Art Contest

Third grade students from Surprise to Gilbert will have their artwork featured in the 2008 Valley Metro Cool Bus STUFF calendar. Focusing on an environmental theme, thirteen winning entries out of a total of 428 were chosen for their unique artwork and message. One picture is featured for each month, plus a best of show that is featured on the cover of the calendar.

The Cool Bus STUFF calendar is an annual event that is open to 3rd graders enrolled at any school in the Valley. Students can enter themselves or as part of a class art project. The purpose of the contest to create awareness and excitement about using public transportation to go shopping, school, work or visit friends.

View Cool Bus STUFF Image Gallery

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