Seeing the school bus chug black smoke every morning clicked something about maintenance schedules.

I used to blame the driver, but now I know it's just neglected oil changes. Maybe I'll slip a note to the mechanic.

4 comments

4 Comments

Black smoke from a bus seems alarming, but let's not jump to conclusions. Diesel engines often puff out soot when they start cold. The kids are only near it for a minute or two each day. Compared to all the other pollution in the air, this is a tiny drop in the bucket. Besides, mechanics probably know about it and just haven't gotten to it yet. Sliding a note might just annoy them more than help.

torres.nathan1mo ago

Think about the kids breathing that junk.

burns.nina1mo ago

It's those little daily exposures that add up, you know? Caleb's right that it's just a minute, but you see the same thing with idling cars at school pickup. A bunch of tiny buckets still fill up. Makes you wonder what the total load really is on those little lungs.

colegarcia1mo ago

Yeah, saw a thing about how diesel soot builds up over time in the body... Nathan's right to be worried about the kids breathing it. Those tiny buckets really do fill up fast.