Walking School Bus
What are walking school buses?
Walking School Buses are a system of getting younger students
between home and school in a manner that is safe, environmentally
sound, and that promotes community interaction and exploration.
They originated in Denmark, but a few have been initiated
in Canada.
Walking Buses occur when the school community develops a
system whereby trusted and responsible members of the school
community (for example, parents, older children, or volunteers)
pick children up along a particular street or in a particular
building and walk them to school. The reverse process gets
the young students home.
Why should we consider starting them?
In England, surveys have revealed that in 1971 80 percent
of seven and eight year old children travelled to and from
school by themselves. By 1990, this figure had dropped to
9 percent. Studies found that this change was a consequence
of parents' perception that their children were not safe walking
to school because of increased car traffic. Ironically, the
response to this perception was to drive children to school,
thereby exacerbating the problem.
One need only observe Canadian schools at drop-off and pick-up
times to realize that the situation in Canada is comparable
to England.
The consequences of "Mom's and Dad's Taxi":
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Automobile congestion at schools. |
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Increased air pollution at
schools leading to lung disease. |
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Unsafe situations when children
weave and dart between cars to reach their destination
at drop-off and pick-up times. |
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Reduced exercise for children
as they are driven to school, lessons, and sports teams. |
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Reduction in children's freedom
to explore their community on their own. |
What are the benefits?
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More time in the morning for
busy parents who do not have to drive their children to
school. |
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Safe passage for children
to and from school. |
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Cleaner air which is important
for young, developing, lungs. |
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Children meet their neighbours,
each other, and become part of the community instead of
viewing it from the back seat of a car. |
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Exercise for young people. |
How do we form a walking school bus?
Walking school busses are intended to provide solutions to
problems particular to each school. Each school is different
and how the walking bus takes shape depends on a number of
factors. Some schools may have only one bus operating one
street. Other schools may be ready to have many routes. Some
busses may operate only in the morning.
Setting up a walking bus is a long-term process that will
probably evolve over time. Also, very few walking busses have
ever been started in Canada. We are all learning as we go.
Some things that your school may wish to consider as you
consider starting walking school buses include:
What you will need:
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Volunteers to "drive"
the bus. |
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Interested parents on key
streets or buildings. |
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A regular pattern or schedule
whereby a bus "operates". |
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An outreach and information
strategy to reach potential users. |
Some tips for establishing a walking bus include:
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Arrange a meeting with the
stakeholders. Include school administration, interested
teachers, parents, and school volunteers. The purpose
of such a meeting can be creating a common understanding
of the purpose of a walking bus, and identifying individuals
to take responsibility for starting a walking bus. |
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Invite someone from Transportation
Options or Tom Samuels to provide information and to assist
you in starting the bus. |
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Start small. Find a key street
or apartment building where there is support for the project
and build the idea from there. |
Resources:
Transportation Options is a non-profit corporation in Toronto
that works to provide alternatives to automobile dependence.
Consulting on walking school busses is offered as a service
to the community.
by Tom Samuels
Tom Samuels is a private consultant who is recognized as an
innovator on the relationship between sustainable transportation,
street design, children, and schools. For information on how
he can assist your school call (416) 536-6568.
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