A small school district contacted Go Together after making two difficult transportation decisions.
Two hard decisions, one open question
Rising costs and the ongoing bus driver shortage forced the district to increase its walk zone from one mile to two miles for all students. It also eliminated bus service for after-school activities.
District leaders believed Go Together could provide families with another option. But they did not know whether families would use it.
They were also missing a clear picture of what the changes meant in families’ everyday lives.
How were parents managing transportation to and from school? Were students walking along safe routes? How were families handling after-school activities? Would parents consider carpooling? And what concerns would prevent them from participating?
Asking before prescribing
Rather than asking the district to commit to a solution based on assumptions, Go Together offered a customized District Transportation Survey at no cost and with no obligation.
The survey examined current travel patterns, the impact on families, interest in carpooling, trust and safety concerns, walking and biking barriers, after-school transportation needs, and families’ openness to a school-only mobility platform.
The responses gave the district something it did not have before: clarity.
What the survey revealed
69% of responding families had considered carpooling or were already doing it, yet only 10% currently carpooled.
53% rated their likelihood of using a school-only carpool app a 4 or 5 out of 5.
Families who had already considered carpooling were far more likely to use a platform than those who had never considered it.
The survey also showed that adoption would depend on more than convenience. Families ranked driver safety, background screening, and compatible schedules as their leading considerations.
What families said
Their comments revealed the everyday reality behind the numbers:
“I already have a neighborhood carpool group established with 3 families thankfully, but I think this would really help those who don’t have neighbors like mine.”
Another parent wrote:
“I don’t mind walking at all. It’s just there are ZERO sidewalks the entire 3+ miles to school.”
From guesswork to a focused pilot
The district no longer had to guess whether families were open to another option or treat every family as one market.
The survey identified where demand existed, what was preventing families from acting, which families were most ready to move first, and what conditions would be necessary for a targeted pilot to earn trust.
That is the power of asking before prescribing.
A case study shows how family transportation data can turn an uncertain idea into a focused path for action. Email us at hello@gotogether.today to get your copy, learn more about the District Transportation Survey, or request a demo.
Adapted from a Go Together, Inc. article on LinkedIn.
