HARRISON, Wis. (NBC 26) -- Sometimes, kids walk a mile to get their nearest school bus stop.
Sometimes, young students walk just a couple blocks. But for one Harrison family, a short commute can make all the difference.
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"I've had two friends that have lost a child at a bus stop," Kaukauna school district parent Emily Gapp said. "I don't want mine to be the third."
For the past three years, the bus picked up Jeremy and Emily Gapp's daughter right at their driveway en route to New Directions Learning Community. But on Sunday, the family found out the kids would have to walk what they say is a dangerous block and a half down Biese Road.
"[There are] vehicles going well over the posted 25 mile-an-hour speed limit," Emily said.
The Gapps now have a nine-year-old and a five-year-old grabbing a ride to school.
"There's no sidewalks in this neighborhood either," Jeremy said. "So when the streets are plowed in a foot from the curb, they're walking in the middle of the road."
"They can definitely drop off and pick up on same-side stops," Emily said.
NBC 26 left multiple voicemails, sent emails and visited Kobussen Buses in person. But the company did not make itself available for comment.
"They've used the reason for bus efficiency where it costs too much fuel," Emily said.
According to the Gapps, there used to be a handful of stops in their neighborhood. Now there's one.
"The lady in the office actually told me that a kindergartener could be expected to walk a mile and half to their bus stop," Jeremy said.
Concerned about the safety of their kids, Emily says she would be willing to pay more just to get another stop added again.
"I hope it changes not just for our kids but for all of them," she said. "Give them a safe way to school."
Until then, there are no plans to add another stop.
