Planning around school holidays with a ride subscription
Turn rides off in the app by noon the day before and the day carries forward. Here’s how to plan a term.
Choosing who drives your child to school is one of the bigger decisions of the school year, and most of the answers that matter aren’t on a brochure. You have to ask. Here are the questions worth putting to any school van, cab or ride service before your child’s first trip.
Who is driving, and how were they checked?
A phone number and a friendly manner aren’t a background check. Ask exactly what each driver goes through before their first ride with children, and who carries it out.
- Police verification. Ask whether every driver has it, not just some.
- A background check. Find out what it covers: identity, address and past work.
- Temperament. Driving children takes patience. Ask whether drivers are assessed for it, not only for driving skill.
Can you see the ride while it’s happening?
GPS tracking tells you where the car is. It doesn’t tell you what’s happening inside it. Ask whether you can see both, live, from your own phone, rather than hearing about a problem after the fact.
Will you know the moment your child is in the car?
Mornings are busy, and “the van came at the usual time” is a guess, not a confirmation. A boarding alert sent to your phone when your child gets in removes the guesswork. Ask how boarding is recorded and whether you’re notified automatically.
Who else shares the ride?
- How many other children ride in the same car?
- Are any adults other than the driver ever in the vehicle?
- Is there a private option, and can a parent or guardian ride along?
What happens if something goes wrong?
Ask what happens if a child feels unwell, the car breaks down or there’s an emergency on the road. Is there an SOS button? Who answers it, and are they available during every ride, including early mornings and late tuition pickups?
Is it reliable day to day?
- Can a driver cancel on the morning of a ride?
- Do prices rise at busy times?
- How long is the pickup window, and how long will the driver wait?
- How far ahead do you need to book?
What about holidays and days off?
School calendars are full of breaks. Ask whether you pay for days your child doesn’t ride, and what you have to do, and by when, to avoid it.
Whichever provider you choose, ask these questions out loud and expect clear, specific answers. A good service will be glad you asked.
Questions parents ask
Is GPS tracking enough on its own?
GPS shows where the car is, but not what is happening inside it. Live in-car video and boarding alerts fill that gap, so you can see the ride and know when your child has boarded.
Should my child take a private or a shared ride?
It depends on your child and your budget. With MetroRide Kids, a shared car carries up to 3 other children and no adults, while a private car lets one guardian ride along, which some families prefer for the first few weeks.
How soon can MetroRide Kids rides start?
Book in the MetroRide Kids app before 4 PM and rides can start the next day.
Book your child’s rides in the MetroRide Kids app
Choose school, tuition or activity rides, pick a plan and track every ride live. Book before 4 PM to start the next day.
Scan to get the app on your phone