I Ride The Bus

An illustration of a yellow school bus with black text above and below it on a yellow background. 

The traditional school bus was invented in the early twentieth century. Previously, children were transported to school in repurposed farm equipment and horse-drawn wagons.  By 1919, buses were being used in all 48 states, but there was no standard design. In 1939, transportation officials met with Dupont and Pittsburgh paints to formulate the classic yellow specifically used on school buses. Yellow buses were easier to see and the black text was legible in low lighting.  The bus design shown here was the style during the 1940s. In addition to the bright color, the current safety standard requires exterior warning lights and signs.