The study analysed journey to school among students in tertiary institutions in Zaria
Metropolis, Kaduna State, Nigeria. The objectives of the study were to estimate the distance a
student travels from home to school; determine students’ vehicular composition; decipher
students’ transportation cost; analyse the effects of transportation problems faced by students
on school attendance; and examine the coping strategies utilised by students to deal with the
challenges of public transportation in Zaria Metropolis. The study employed the use of 397
structured questionnaires distributed to Ahmadu Bello university and Federal College of
Education, Zaria with 271 and 126 respectively. The collected data were analysed using
descriptive and inferential statistics (Chi-Square Test). The finding of the study shows that the
majority of respondents were from Sabon Gari (23.85%), followed by Samaru (17.95%), Tudun
Wada (15.13%) and Kongo (4.10%). Also from the findings, majority of the students walked to
and from school, follow by use of tricycle and motorcycle, while bus was the lest used. In terms
of cost of transportation each student spends between N50-N100 daily. It was also found from
the study that the first period attendance rate was high, but absenteeism ranged from once a
week to more than thrice a week. It was discovered that transportation cost had an impact on
school attendance thereby leading to most of the students walking to school as a coping
strategy. Thus, the study recommends improvement in the transportation services in area where
student frequently commute, that transportation planners should take into consideration the
departure time patterns of students and plan transportation services accordingly. Also, the
transportation planners could introduce more shorter routes, create walking friendly paths and
design effective transportation services in the study areas