Walking School Bus

The Idea

A Walking School Bus is a group of children walking to school with adult supervision. It’s very simple and that’s part of its beauty. It's all about families taking turns walking their children to school, with a structured route and meeting points, a timetable and a regularly rotated schedule of volunteers.

Typically, a Walking School Bus is comprised of two volunteer parents, one to “drive” and one to “conduct” a group of school children. They then follow a set route to school, collecting pupils at “bus stops” along the way. The flexibility of the walking school bus makes it appealing to communities of all sizes with varying needs. Safety concerns are often the primary reason that parents are reluctant to allow their children to walk to school. Providing adult supervision may help reduce those worries for families who live within walking distance of school.

Why is it important?

Studies show that fewer children are walking and biking to school. At the same time, more children are at risk of obesity than ever before. Changing behaviors of children and parents requires creative solutions that are safe and fun. Implementing a walking school bus can be both!

• It provides a safe and environmentally friendly way for children to travel to school.
• Children learn good road sense and it encourages children to start the “walking” habit. Hopefully, this habit stays with them for the rest of their lives!
• Improved fitness through daily exercise.
• It’s fun, promotes social development and encourages independence.
• Rotating parents builds new relationships and allows parents to not walk their children to school every day.
• Studies show children are more alert and focused after walking to school versus riding in a car or on the bus.
• Fewer cars means reduced traffic and pollution.