A group of parents have decided to take on the traffic congestion issues plaguing our roads on the morning commute.

After dealing with the traffic out of the West End to get their children to Saltus Cavendish in Devonshire, they have banded together to provide a mini bus service for parents looking for an alternative to the morning rush hour woes.

"The whole thing started because we live west of Hamilton where the traffic jam starts," explains Kai Morgenstern, whose son Max uses the service. "It's a mess to get into school and it takes so long. We wanted to stay where we are on the Island so we organised a bus."

The bus, run by Mini Mega Transport Service, currently commutes seven children to Saltus Cavendish starting from the bus stop near Waterlot Inn. Although if interest requires the service can start at Barnes Corner. The bus, which is brand-new and equipped with safety belts and a DVD player, leaves Waterlot at 7.30 a.m. driving along Middle Road and collecting children along the way.

Mini Mega's driver Chevaun Simmons keeps the children in check and makes sure everyone arrives to school safely and on time. Each week the children are allowed to bring their favourite DVD to play during the morning drive.

"The guy who runs it is really great with kids and the teachers are very happy with the way he works with the kids. He really makes sure they are safe. He doesn't start driving until the kids are in and safe," says Mr. Morgenstern.

But with just seven children and another six seats to fill the group are hoping to encourage more parents to consider using the bus service for their children.

The bus has been running since the beginning of the school term on a trial basis.

"Our son thought it was really cool. It is so much cooler to be with the other kids and the people we have talked to love it because it is much easier for them. It's safe, friendly and economically makes sense. The trial period has been the right move so that people don't think they are buying into some blurry thing but we need to have more kids joining in to keep it sustainable," Mr. Morgenstern says.

Before going with the service, driver Chevaun Simmons had the parents come out to look at the bus. "I got a chance to speak with the parents before we started and they got a chance to see what they were going to be getting," he says.

Mr. Simmons works part-time to help out his mother-in-law, Grace-Ann Fox, who owns the multifaceted mini bus service. Mini Mega was originally called Kids of All Colours (KAOC) and specifically worked with kids. "I would love to expand the business and take it to another level," he says. "I would love to expand it further for the schools."

n For more information about the school bus contact Elena Bernaldez at

Elena_bernaldez@yahoo.de. For more information about Mini Mega Transport Services contact 335-6534.