Even as a growing number of student transporters view local ride share services as competition, one of the largest  school bus contractors is taking the approach that if you can’t beat them, join them, and in the process potentially taking it nationwide.

That’s the vision of Student Transportation, Inc. in announcing a “highly strategic” move.  The company’s Managed Services Group (MSG) made a minority investment in HopSkipDrive, which was started several years ago in California, by three mothers as a family-and school-friendly alternative to the Lyft and Uber.

The group’s vision is to increase the number of students who need rides to and from school or related events, but for whom the school bus is not an option.

In addition to individual rides, HopSkipDrive offers group transportation for sports teams and field trips, carpooling to schools with daily predetermined routes.   The company monitors all rides and drivers (who are put through a 15 -point certification training process) allowing parents to do the same via an app that also allows trip requests.