PA continues to work on solutions, but we need the contribution of volunteering members. If you are interested in exploring, developing and setting-up collective solutions, please join us and make it happen!

U-Bahn + Shuttle
The nearest U-Bahn (subway) station, Nordwestzentrum, is at a 10 minutes walking distance from the ESF and the U-Bahn is therefore underused although it is more cost-effective and environmentally friendly than individual cars. An idea to be explored would consist in bridging the gap between an U-Bahn station close to the school and the ESF with a shuttle with rotations between 07.50 and 08.25 in the morning and 15.00 and 17.00 in the afternoon. Although it seems straight forward, many aspects have to be taken care of and organized, such as setting-up a safe environment at the U-Bahn station where students can wait for the bus. The stations Heddernheimer Landstrasse and Niedersursel offer large dead-end street areas which seem appropriate.

Organizing collective transport of the youngest and their collection in the U-Bahn, from and to the city-center (ECB ?) would involve caretakers. The current Bus line A seems to be the more viable alternative for young children. Also, we would need to get subsidies to reduce the costs associated to the shuttle as offers from bus companies for such small connections are nearly as expensive as driving through the city.

Additional bus routes
More bus routes will be needed. The PA collected many offers and details from various companies and will support the creation of any new route as soon as enough ESF parents express the need for it. PA is therefore seeking volunteers or Points of Contact (PoC) to look into such potential routes and gather the interest.

Share the contact details
It is very frustrating especially for newcomers not to be able to contact other ESF parents in their neighborhood to organize car sharing etc, although our car sharing tool makes this a lot easier already. Some other international school publish a phonebook with all parents details to all parents, with the exception of those who preferred not to disclose their contact details. This is something which could be investigated for the ESF. Here again, volunteers to look into the technical and legal aspects are needed.

A U-Bahn station at the ESF
There are long term plans to extend the U-Bahn line in the Nordwest-Zentrum and create a station at the ESF. However, knowing how fast "long term" plans are implemented, it is unlikely that any of us will see things happen. Any enthusiastic volunteering parents will be warmly welcome to investigate further the if, how and when of these plans. An important aspect is also the side effect it may have onto the access to school during the construction period.