As we rush to catch the early morning bus, we are simultaneously breathing in diesel fumes. Yet we should not have to choose between transportation and clean air. Our daily commute can include both with the expansion of electric buses. 

Schools are supposed to create safe environments for students, yet many of us begin and end our days inhaling diesel fumes. Despite transportation being necessary, exposing us to pollutants connected to respiratory illnesses should not be tolerated when cleaner solutions, like electric buses, exist. 

“When you’re moving away from gas and fossil fuels and replacing it with electricity…you’re actually improving the air quality locally,” Corey Cantor, the research director at the Zero Emissions Transportation Association, said. 

Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) currently has 31 electric buses in their fleet, illustrating its potential for expansion. With more electric buses, students can have access to more environmentally friendly options that are more enjoyable to ride as well. 

“I have had the opportunity to ride on one of these buses to an academy class, and the experience felt even better than that of a regular bus,” junior Jurgen Callejas said. “Furthermore, FCPS does a wonderful job at teaching about the consequences of our actions on the environment, and adopting more electric buses would drive that mission even more profoundly.” 

If FCPS encourages their students to be environmentally conscious, its transportation systems should reflect those same principles. Expanding the electric bus fleet would incorporate environmental education into daily commutes for students, which creates meaningful experiences day by day. 

We might not think about what is in the air every time we board the bus in the morning, but maybe we should. Clean air should not be a privilege, but a part of every student’s daily ride. By investing in more electric buses, FCPS can ensure that the ride to school is not defined by diesel exhaust but a healthier future for all.