Commute from Pokfulam to Quarry Bay ESF school?

[bellevuemom]

Hi,

My son is accepted to ESF Quarry Bay. But we are living in Pokfulam (Sha Wan Drive). My husband checked the school PTA for school bus information. Unfortunately there is no school bus that comes close to where we live. My family just moved to HK early this week and is not family with the area at all. We really need some advise as to the best way for my son to commute to school. Any suggestions? I was hoping we don't have to get a car.

thanks,
Duan

[rani]

I hv seen the quarry bay bus in pok Fu lam. Hv u asked the PTA? It may be a private bus and they shd hv the number. The bus ride shd be 30-40 mins.

[bellevuemom]

Thanks for the quick reply.
Is "private bus" not the same as school bus? I understand the school has a contract with a private company to run the school buses. When my husband checked with PTA, they didn't mention anything like that, we will ask again specifically for the private bus. Keeping my fingers crossed. Thanks! (I checked the public transpiration from our apt takes about 1 1/2 hours one way plus considerable amount of walking. It is just too much. )

[HowardCoombs]

(I checked the public transpiration from our apt takes about 1 1/2 hours one way plus considerable amount of walking. It is just too much. )

I'm fairly sure minibus 10 connecting with minibus 25 will take far less than 1.5 hours and there will minimal walking involved. Could you double check?

[rani]

PTAs run the regular bus service but sometimes there maybe a private bus arranged by parents. I hv seen the bus in pok Fu lam in the past. Used to leave around 730am. Maybe the kids commuting hv all graduated. Best to ask the PTA again. Hv also seen the Bradbury n peak school bus as well this past school yr.

[bellevuemom]

Thanks for the bus information as well.

minibus 10 is a little too far from where we live. But it seems we can take minibus 28 and connect with minibus 25 @ central. Thanks a bunch for the info. I was wondering if there is usually enough seats in the morning rush hour. I will do a test run sometime this week and report back.

As for the private bus, just emailed PTA and wait to hear back. Anyone has the private bus company name or contact info? Thanks so much. This is my first thread on the forum. You guys/gals are awesome!

[rani]

The 28 may fill up in Baguio. Also try the 69 bus from Cyberport.

[jayinhongkong]

That's a tough commute for a primary school student. I went to QBS myself (finished up just over twenty years ago), but we only lived a few minutes away.

There's also the option of the 23B single/double decker from Park Road in the Mid-Levels. It would drop him off right at the bus terminus on Braemar Hill, which is about a minute's walk from QBS.

[bellevuemom]

Heard back from the PTA. There is no other private bus service. I wasn't sure I should let my son take the bus (and change in the middle) by himself. If I accompany him, it would take 2+ hours in the morning and 2+ hours in the afternoon for myself!. Now I am really thinking I should get a car. Either I drive him directly to school. Or I drive him to one of the school bus stops (commute though bus there takes yet another considerable amount of time). The question is: Most roads seem to have one lane only on each direction, how do I stop/park temporarily to make sure my son gets on the school bus? Or is it safe to just let my 8 year old wait there for the school bus by himself? The bus stop is somewhere in mid-level near Robinson street. Thanks very much for your help in advance.

[HowardCoombs]

Hong Kong public transport is very safe and my current 9 year old has been riding since he was 8. Whether this is good idea or not depends on your child's comfort level.

I would not buy a car just for this. If you find your child is not suitable for the journey, talk to some taxi drivers to get a fixed rate pass twice a day; you will usually find this to be more economical than buying a car.