Duarte : Child Exclusion Upheld

Amid charges of age discrimination, the City Council last week voted to maintain the city’s policy of excluding school-age children from city buses before 4 p.m. on weekdays.

Council members said that the Duarte Transit System was never intended as a substitute for school bus service and that allowing youngsters access during school hours would clog the system, preventing adult riders from boarding.

The system, primarily for seniors, low-income residents and the disabled, carries almost 20,000 riders a month on two minibuses, city officials said. School-age children are permitted to ride on holidays and weekends and after 4 p.m. on weekdays.

About 10 residents spoke at a public hearing Tuesday, asking the city to help carry students whose school bus routes were discontinued because of school district budget cuts. Some want the city to issue special bus passes to youngsters living in areas outside school bus route boundaries.

Parent Paul Gordon, contending that the city’s policy constitutes age discrimination, said he has filed a grievance with the California Transportation Commission and is considering a lawsuit.