New book makes the case that reliable student mobility is fundamental to access to education

REDWOOD CITY, Calif., Sept. 1, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- The Most Important Commute, the new book by Zūm Founder and CEO Ritu Narayan, has reached #1 on Amazon's bestseller list in Education Administration, underscoring growing recognition of student mobility as a critical part of educational access and outcomes.

Every day, approximately 26 million students rely on school buses to get to and from school, making student mobility one of the largest mass mobility systems in the United States. Yet the system has historically operated with fragmented technology, limited visibility and outdated infrastructure.

In The Most Important Commute, Narayan draws on more than a decade building Zum and working with school districts, families, drivers and transportation leaders to examine why the journey to school is much more than a transportation challenge—it is an education issue.

"Every conversation about improving education starts in the classroom, but for millions of students, access to education begins long before they walk through the school doors," said Narayan. "The school bus is the bridge between a child and everything education can make possible. Seeing The Most Important Commute reach #1 in Education Administration reinforces how important this conversation has become."

The book highlights transformations underway in school districts across the country and explores how technology, AI and modern operations can improve reliability, reduce student commute times, provide greater transparency for families and make transportation systems more efficient.

"Zum's track record, along with its enhanced communication and equity-focused decision making, has greatly benefited our students, families and drivers," said Dr. Jennifer Collier, Superintendent of Kansas City Public Schools. "It has been a game-changer for KCPS and our community."

Today, Zum supports more than 6,500 schools across 19 states through Zum CMX™, its unified, AI-powered operating system purpose-built for student mobility.

"The story of student mobility is ultimately a story about opportunity," Narayan said. "When a child can count on getting to school safely and reliably every day, an entire world opens up to them. That is why this is—and always will be—the most important commute."

The Most Important Commute is available on Amazon.

To learn more about how Zum is leading the nation in redefining student mobility, visit www.ridezum.com.

About Ritu Narayan

Ritu Narayan is the Founder and CEO of Zum, a technology entrepreneur and working mother who founded Zum after experiencing firsthand the challenges families face getting children safely and reliably to and from school. Under her leadership, Zūm has grown to support more than 6,500 schools across 19 states.

About Zum

Zum is redefining mass mobility with Zum CMX, which connects and coordinates people, vehicles, and operations in real time. In the student mobility market, Zum is addressing a daily source of anxiety and disruption by providing a reliable, transparent, and efficient mobility experience for students and families. Learn more at www.ridezum.com. Today, more than 6,500 schools in 199 states have relied on the Zum CMX™ system.

Media Contact

Jenny Mayfield
VP, Communications, Zum
press@ridezum.com 

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SOURCE Zūm