On this page
Travel options for South Australian school students for getting to school and details on transport assistance.
Public transport - Adelaide Metro
Students in metropolitan Adelaide can use:
- public transport
- Adelaide Metro school bus service - to see dedicated school bus services type the school name into 'timetables'.
Student concessions for public transport
Full-time students are entitled to student fares on public transport. Students over 15 must carry ID cards from their school. See Adelaide Metro fares.
Travel concessions and allowances has more details on public transport concessions.
Travel and safety tips
School travel tips on the Adelaide Metro website can help you plan your travel.
School buses - mostly in rural areas
Department-owned yellow and contract school buses are allocated to specific government schools across the state, primarily in rural areas, to operate on morning and afternoon school bus routes.
Who the service is for
Students living in rural areas who meet the eligibility criteria set out in the Department for Education's school transport policy (PDF 385KB).
Other options
If a school bus isn't provided, families can apply for an allowance such as the student travelling allowance. For options, details and how to apply see travel concessions and allowances.
For information about other options contact your school or local council.
Active travel - such as bicycles, scooters and walking to school
Children need to be reminded about personal safety when they start school and when they travel independently.
Bicycles
Students riding bicycles have the same rights and responsibilities as other road users. Most schools provide bicycle racks for students to secure their bicycles. All cyclists in South Australia must wear a helmet. See cyclist road rules and safety.
Scooters, skating or walking to school
Students who walk, ride scooters or skate to school are considered to be pedestrians and need to be aware of their rights and responsibilities when using footpaths and roads.
Some schools in South Australia have a walking school bus that involves parent volunteers walking a set route to pick up children on their way to school. Contact your school to find out if they have a walking school bus.
Safety tips
Encourage your child to avoid:
- loitering on their way to and from school
- visiting friends without permission
- going anywhere with strangers.
Way2Go program has resources that parents and teachers can use to explain road safety.
Driving
To avoid accidents it's important for parents and students who drive to follow safety rules.
Many schools provide drop-off zones, taxi zones, parking and u-turns to maintain a safe and orderly traffic flow. Safety instructions include:
- observing school speed limits - there's a 25 km zone around schools when children are present
- not parking in no standing zones or across school entrances
- respecting local neighbours and their right to access their driveways
- not double parking
- making sure that children exit their car onto the footpath.
Remember that local councils enforce parking regulations and police will take action against traffic offences.
Most car parks on school grounds are reserved for staff and disability access.
Transport assistance
Transport assistance may be available to eligible students, including those with a disability, in line with the criteria set out in the Department for Education's school transport policy (PDF 385KB).
Students must live more than 5 kilometres from their nearest government school to be eligible for transport assistance. For more information see travel concessions and allowances.
Students with disability
Children or students with disability enrolled in a government special preschool or school, disability unit or special class may be able to access transport assistance through the Department for Education. The department is an in-kind service provider for transport under the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS).
It’s still your responsibility as a parent or carer to make sure your child attends their school or preschool. Using this service doesn’t change that.
Transport assistance may be in the form of a:
- car allowance
- private bus fare allowance
- public passenger transport grant
- direct assistance using a bus, taxi or access vehicle.
National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) and educational services has more information about transport assistance.
How to apply
- Confirm your child is eligible via the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS).
- Contact your school or preschool to access the service.
