Chinese reporters see yellow

MONROE, N.Y. — When reporters from China’s state television network, CCTV, wanted to learn about the U.S. school transportation system, they got in touch with the National Association for Pupil Transportation (NAPT), which has its own video program, NAPTV.

And so it was that CCTV met NAPTV at the Monroe-Woodbury Central School District to get a firsthand look at yellow buses.

Mike Martin, NAPT executive director, and Cliff Berchtold, Monroe-Woodbury director of transportation, gave the visiting reporters a tour of the numerous safety features on a bus, including the emergency door and the crossing arm. They explained how the pupil transportation system works and the benefits it provides nationwide.

China doesn’t have such a system but is considering adopting one in some cities.

Ye Shan, CCTV executive editor, told NAPTV that Chinese parents share the concern of keeping kids safe as they travel to and from school. “This is very vital, and I think this is a good reference to my audience,” Shan said of the yellow bus system.

School transportation is just one of the subjects that the CCTV reporters are covering during their 28-day visit to the U.S. The group was also scheduled to interview Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner and basketball star Kobe Bryant, among others.

To watch the NAPTV episode, go to www.napt.org.