What is a Walking School Bus?
A walking school bus is a group of children walking to school with one or more adults. A variation on the walking school bus is a bicycle train where a group of children and adult leaders ride together to school. A walking school bus can be as informal as two families taking turns walking their children to school or as structured as a planned route running on a schedule, picking up students at stops, and operating with trained adult drivers.
Walking School Buses have been used in various places in the United States and in the world for over ten years. Started by an inventor in Australia, the idea caught on in Canada and England and is now spreading across the United States. It started as a way to reduce traffic levels and give children a sense of "independent mobility". These objectives continue to be cited, along with many others.
What are the benefits of a Walking School Bus?
Several benefits flow from the increased walking (and decreased motor vehicle traffic) achieved through the walking school bus. Health reasons are frequently cited, given the prevalence of overweight and obesity among children. In a more demanding testing environment, schools also struggle with the conflict between sufficient academic class time and physical education class time. Evidence that academic performance improves with increased fitness can complicate this conflict. The walking school bus provides regular exercise outside school hours. Increased safety and improved air quality around schools are also benefits of the walking school bus. Where vehicle traffic and the number of traditional school buses are reduced, traffic congestion around schools declines and safety is improved. Moreover, traffic in surrounding neighborhoods and on residential streets is reduced. Safety is also improved because children who participate in the walking school bus program are instructed in safe walking practices.
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