As summer vacation slowly draws to a close, tens of thousands of young people are gearing up for the new school year. For a large group, this means back on the road with student transport. But increasingly, you hear that young people prefer to travel independently. They want to show what they can do, push their boundaries, and take the step towards independence. Yet, in practice, the transition from vans to public transport proves to be a big one—and sometimes even daunting. Fortunately, innovation offers a solution: Virtual OV, a smart training program from Changefied, literally opens the door to self-reliance.
Student transportation in 2025: Figures and wishes
In the Netherlands, approximately 75,000 pupils use municipal student transport annually
. These are often children in special education who – for various reasons – are (yet) unable to travel to school independently. The number is growing, as are the costs, but at the same time, more and more young people are expressing a desire to try public transport and arrange more things themselves. Parents and supervisors underscore this: not only for their child's self-confidence, but also for their future opportunities.
Citizenship: Self-reliance as a learning objective
Education continues to evolve, and the learning objective
'Citizenship' is gaining more weight.
Self-reliance plays a central role in this: students are encouraged to take responsibility, make their own choices, and practice practical skills. Traveling by public transport is a promising context: it requires planning, dealing with unexpected situations, daring to ask questions, and – importantly – learning to reflect on experiences. This step towards independence is not self-evident for every child, but it is desirable and achievable for almost every child with the right support.
Virtual Public Transport: Practice safely, take control
That's precisely where Changefied comes in with Virtual OV: a virtual learning platform that allows young people to gain public transport experience at their own pace. In a safe, realistic VR environment, they practice checking in, traveling, transferring, and even handling situations that sometimes go wrong—think a missed stop or a crowded bus. The increasing difficulty level helps every student build confidence. Because everything is virtual, they can make mistakes and try again without embarrassment or stress.
Result: Less dependent, more opportunities
The results are impressive: thanks to Virtual Public Transport, more and more young people are boarding the bus or train independently. The number of taxi or minibus trips is decreasing, making public transport more accessible and reducing the pressure on student transport. In this way, schools and municipalities are not only focusing on efficiency but also concretely implementing the Citizenship learning objective. This makes young people more independent, resilient, and better prepared for a future where self-determination is important.
Dare to travel – take the step with Virtual OV!
Do you, as a school, municipality, or parent, want to contribute to the next step in young people's lives? Then invest in self-reliance training and help them carry that holiday confidence into the new school year. Virtual Public Transport shows: learning to travel is the key to independence!
