Walk + Bike School Bus
New Walk + Bike School Bus guidebook is available!
Our newly completed Walk + Bike School Bus Guidebook (Download wsb_guidebook_low.pdf) is
now available to schools and community champions. The full-color,
25-page, spiral-bound guide includes "Seven Steps to Organizing a Walk
+ Bike School Bus", a Toolkit loaded with sample documents and a
'Frequently Asked Questions' section.
If you are interested in getting a walking or
biking School Bus started in your Oregon school, contact us for
technical assistance, a copy of the Walk + Bike School Bus Guidebook, or for more information: Oregon Walk+Bike to School 503-226-0676 x 18
What is a Walk + Bike School Bus?
A walking school bus is a group of students supervised by adult parents/volunteers who walk or bike to and from school. The W+B Bus travels along a predetermined route, picking up participants along the way. The W+B Bus can operate as many days a week as there are parents/volunteers are willing to lead it. The W+B Bus is free and everyone is encouraged to use it as a safe means to travel to and from school.
How does it work?
A Walk+Bike School Bus works like a carpool, but without the car! It is an alternative transportation option for getting children to and from school in a safe and physically active manner. The goal of the W+B Bus is to promote physical activity, reduce congestion and pollution, and to create a sense of community.
A parent or other volunteer walks or bikes with a group of kids to and from school. The W+B Bus travels along a predetermined safe route picking up or dropping off children along the way at
designated ‘bus stops.’ The bus stops are predetermined by you and your W+B Bus Team and tailored to each neighborhood situation. A “bus stop” can be a central location where parents and children meet, such as homes, businesses, public buildings, or identified intersections or parks along the safe route. The children walk in pairs and wear safety vest for visibility. Ideally there is a ‘driver’ who leads the W+B Bus and a ‘conductor’ at the rear. The larger the bus, the more volunteers are needed. A common ratio is 4-8 kids per adult. The W+B Bus is free for everyone and kids may walk or bike with the ‘bus’ even if their parents aren’t able to participate.
Safe Routes to School
Safe Routes to School (SR2S) is a growing movement to remove the physical and social barriers to walking and biking to school. This comprehensive program also encourages parents and kids to organize and join Walk + Bike School Buses.
Why Do We Need a Walk + Bike School Bus?
Walking and Biking School Buses make walking to school safer by
providing adult supervision for children who walk to school. It brings
together a small group of students with one or more adults on their
walks to and from school. Typically, the students live near one
another. Even if they already walk or ride to school, the benefit of
the Walk + Bike to School Bus is that it provides a consistent,
supervised system in which children can walk to school under the
watchful eye of an adult.
Current trends indicate that children don’t get the recommended amount of physical activity per day. Not only are children less active, childhood obesity is on the rise. A Walking or Biking School Bus can provide the Surgeon General's recommended minimum daily exercise - in a daily trip already being made by every family!
There are many other benefits of the program:
- It increases safe passage of students who already walk and bike.
- It encourages additional students to walk and bike, introducing them to an important and easy form of exercise.
- It reduces auto traffic, particularly near schools during drop-off and pick-up times, making the streets safer for kids who walk and bike to school.
- It strengthens communities by getting people-parents and students in particular-to work together for a common good.
- Decreased auto trips to and from school reduce air pollution and contribute to a cleaner environment for kids!
- Communities are more likely to be safer, cleaner, and friendlier for all who live, work, and play there when neighbors are regularly out on the street.
And yes, there are even more benefits!
- Regular physical activity decreases obesity and improves concentration, memory and mood
- Increased independence and social bonding for kids
- Quality time spent with parents and caring neighbors and friends
- Extra time at home while your kids walk or bike with other ‘drivers’
- Experience being part of a team
- Improved pedestrian and bicycle skills among youth
- Building community cohesion and getting to know your neighbors
- More eyes and ears on the street helps to reduce criminal activity
- Most importantly…ITS FUN!
