It’s obvious that today is the start of the new school year. For the first time in 6 weeks I’ve been able to navigate the city streets at lunchtime without having to dodge packs of schoolchildren.
Is that why it’s so quiet? (our school hols coincide with yours) Ahhh! The bliss! 
See, I have the opposite problem.
When schools are out on break I love travelling to work (I take the bus) because there’s half the number of riders on the bus, and the bus is always on time.
Then when the school break is over it’s back to the usual packed buses that are always at least five minutes behind schedule packed full of nattering 13-year-olds with large book-bags who always stand in large groups blocking the door.
Oh I agree. The traffic and the buses are **much ** worse now that the new school year has begun.
But the CBD is **much ** better.