New York City plans to pay for Ubers, $UBER, Lyfts, $LYFT, and MetroCards to get tens of thousands of students to school if it fails to strike a deal with the yellow-bus-drivers union

New York City officials have unveiled a contingency plan to ensure that students can get to school in the event of a school bus drivers' union strike. The plan involves providing alternative transportation options, including ride-sharing services like Uber and Lyft, as well as MetroCards for public transportation.

Chancellor David Banks of the city's schools revealed the backup plan, which would cover various scenarios, including disabled students and migrant children, along with their parents who need transportation to and from schools during drop-offs and pick-ups.

While the city remains hopeful about reaching an agreement with the bus drivers' union, preparations are being made to address potential disruptions before the start of the school year on September 7. The strike could impact over 80,000 students across New York City's five boroughs, affecting more than 4,400 bus routes.

In the event of a strike, the Department of Education plans to distribute emergency MetroCards to families, which will offer up to four trips with transfers for both students and guardians between 5:30 a.m. and 8 p.m. on weekdays. The goal is to ensure that students can still attend school even if regular bus services are disrupted.