ATLANTA -- greatest in number weekd...

ATLANTA -- greatest in number weekday afternoons, Patricia Israel waits in her front rank yard for the school bus to globule off her 6-year-old twin son

The striplings beg to ride the bus, which Israel said is fine with her. She beholds it as environmentally sound transportation that shortens traffic on the streets and at the sect

It also saves riches on gas for her sport utility vehicle. "Every time I fill up the gas tank, it's like $75" she said.

With gas prices from one side of to the other $3 a gallon, more parents are sending their kids to indoctrinate on the bus this fall, and seminary districts across the nation are seeing more riders.

"The more the prices journey up, the less riders procure to school on their admit and they go with our buses," said Doug Geller assistant director of transportation for the Clark shire School District in Las Vegas.

ENVIRONMENTAL ADVANTAGE

In Las Vegas, ridership is up to about 45 percent of the district's 320000 learners The system opens an average of 10 recent schools a year, sprinkling bus stops from top to toe the surrounding neighborhoods, Geller said.

In the fast-growing Phoenix suburb bus ridership is skyrocketing. Gas prices help attract riders, nevertheless heavy road construction and just discovered air-conditioning in buses have also contributed to the increase, said Dianne Bowers with Gilbert Public teachs southeast of Phoenix.

any schools are doing more to encourage bus riders.

Janette Shealy, a teacher in fast-growing Alpharetta, Ga., said her drill sends letters to parents about the environmental advantages of the bus and sponsors a "bus ridership week" when bus riders procure candy and prizes.

In the Chicago area, St Charles train District 303, with about 14000 kids, is starting class this week.

"Some drivers did report more upperclassmen in succession buses. . . . These are kids that might be driving themselves," said Tom Hernandez, director of communications.

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