The case in summary: The brothers Simon (6) and Thobias (8) each have to take their own taxi to school due to a lack of cooperation between Fredrikstad municipality and Østfold county municipality. Simon gets a ride from the county council because the family lives more than three kilometers from the school, while Thobias gets a ride from the municipality because they live along a dangerous road. Østfold public transport has requested a collaboration with Fredrikstad municipality, but the municipality has chosen to have its own agreement. Fredrikstad municipality has financial problems and explains that their local agreement is more financially favorable than entering into an agreement with Østfold public transport. The summary is made by an AI service from OpenAI. The content is quality assured by news’s journalists before publication. The school bags are on. Simon (6) and Thobias (8) stand ready on the stairs. Two taxis enter the yard. The taxis are going to the same school in Fredrikstad, at exactly the same time. Nevertheless, the boys must go in their own vehicles. Little brother wonders why he can’t drive with big brother. Neither mum nor the driver is able to answer the question. The reason is that the municipality and the county council are unable to cooperate. – It’s unnecessary – When I tell people we know about our situation, they think it’s ridiculous. You can choose whether to laugh or laugh, says mum Miriam Bendixen. The taxis come to collect the boys at about the same time every day. The drive to the school only takes a couple of minutes. Photo: Ingrid Mathilde Langvik / news The family lives about three kilometers from the school. This entitles first-grader Simon to a taxi to school, and he gets that ride from Østfold County Municipality. Because they also live along a dangerous road with an 80 zone, which has no footpath or cycle path, third-grader Thobias also has a right to a school bus. But he gets it from Fredrikstad municipality. – It is completely unnecessary for them to use two taxis for us, when they live at the same address and are going to the same school, says the mother. Who is entitled to a school bus in Østfold? Pupils in 1st grade can get a school bus if they live 2 kilometers or more away from school. Pupils in grades 2–10. class get a free ride if they live 4 kilometers or more away from the school. If students have a disability, or are temporarily injured or ill, they may also be entitled to school transport. Lack of cooperation Most of the municipalities in Østfold cooperate with the county council to avoid situations similar to the one the Bendixen family is in. But Fredrikstad municipality does not. – I have tried to ask both the municipality and the county council why they cannot drive together. I have not received a clear answer to that, says Miriam Bendixen. Mamma Bendixen would like the county council and the municipality to make exceptions for siblings. Photo: Malin Therese Strand / news Both Østfold county municipality and Fredrikstad municipality are struggling financially. Therefore, the mother reacts to both parties spending money on the school bus for Simon and Thobias, instead of cooperating on carpooling. The county municipality: Wants communication with the municipality – I understand the family’s frustration, says Jonas André Kårtveit Olsen. He is director of Østfold public transport, which is responsible for the school transport for first-grader Simon. The director says that the county council has previously requested carpooling. The municipality did not want that. Photo: Malin Therese Strand / news – It is most economical to have one car instead of two. We have requested such cooperation, but Fredrikstad municipality has chosen to have a separate agreement. He explains that Østfold public transport has a great desire to work together in the future. – We want to achieve such coordination, but then we are dependent on both parties wanting it, he says. The taxi that older brother gets from the municipality does not always have the option of picking him up straight after school. Therefore, he has to stay at after-school care several days a week. Little brother gets a ride right after school, but big brother is not allowed to sit on it. Photo: Malin Therese Strand / news The municipality: – Went for what is economically beneficial for us – I understand that it can be perceived as not appropriate, says Line Lofstad Andersen, head of department for schools in Fredrikstad municipality. She explains that the lack of cooperation is due to the fact that the agreement the municipality must enter into with Østfold public transport is more expensive than the local agreement the municipality has. – And as the situation is in Fredrikstad, we have to turn over every single kroner. Therefore, we have gone for a solution that is more financially favorable for us. In the municipality’s scheme, payment is made per car and kilometre, while in the scheme from Østfold public transport, payment is made per pupil. Stats chief Andersen believes the Bendixen family is in a unique situation. Photo: Malin Therese Strand / news Will try to find a solution for the family Furthermore, the head of the agency says that she has never heard of the Bendixen family’s situation before, even though mother Miriam has contacted the municipality. After news made contact, the municipality has said that they will work to find a simpler solution for the family as soon as possible. Mamma Miriam Bendixen hopes the change will come quickly. – I have several children who will start primary school soon. If the system does not change, we will get two taxis home for several years. Published 26/09/2024, at 21.12
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These brothers are picked up at the same time by different taxis – and driven to the same school every day – news Østfold – Local news, TV and radio
