What is a walking school bus?
A walking school bus is a group of families living in a neighbourhood who form a walking group to take children in their area to and from school. Parents or caregivers take turns as 'drivers', walking along a set route to and from school, collecting children from designated 'bus stops' along the way. See the map produced by parents from Roydvale School as an example of a walking school bus route.
Younger children wear fluorescent jackets or sashes so they are more visible on the streets.
How often does the walking school bus operate?
The walking school bus operates whenever its suits the families involved. Buses may operate daily or only a couple of days a week. Some buses may operate every morning and every afternoon taking children to school and from school. Other buses may operate only in the mornings or only in the afternoons or a combination of mornings and afternoons.
How many children can travel in a walking school bus?
The number of children in a walking school bus depends upon the number of families involved in the neighbourhood. The Council recommends one adult supervises a maximum of eight children. Many walking school bus supervisors believe that the ratio should be one adult to five or six children, particularly if the bus crosses busy roads or includes young (five and six year old) children.
Do children have to be picked up and delivered to their homes?
The Walking School Bus has a set route with pick-up and drop-off points - like bus stops - along the route. The children wait at these points for the walking school bus in the morning or are dropped off at these points in the afternoon. Parents can accompany their children to these pick-up points or wait for them there in the afternoon. The walking school bus route, with its pick-up and drop-off points, is determined by the families participating in the walking school bus.
What are the benefits of a walking school bus?
A walking school bus can:
- Provide exercise to improve children's physical health, memory and concentration.
- Encourage children to be independent and responsible while being part of a team.
- Assist children with learning road safety in a practical and supervised situation.
- Encourage families in the neighbourhood to get to know one another.
- Save parents' money by not using their vehicle.
- Save parents' time when they aren’t 'driving' the bus.
- Reduce traffic congestion around the school and adjoining roads.
- Improve the environment for children by reducing vehicle pollution around the school.
How do I set up a walking school bus?
A coordinator’s guide for setting up a walking school bus is available from the NZ Transport Agency’s Feet First website. For additional advice and resources contact the Council’s Road Safety Coordinator (Schools).
How does our school establish a network of walking school buses?
School Boards of Trustees and staff who want to see a network of walking school buses established in their schools need to work closely with their Parent Teachers Association (PTA). The key to success is often a keen parent or two willing to take on the role of the Walking School Bus Programme Coordinator.
The first step is to survey parents and caregivers to determine interest in establishing walking school buses.
From the returned forms the addresses of interested families can be plotted on a map from which clusters of families which could form walking school buses can be identified. These families then need to be put in touch with one another. Calling a meeting of interested families is often a good idea and then encouraging each cluster of families to get together afterwards to work out their route and roster. It is helpful if each Walking School Bus has its own coordinator to facilitate communication among the families on the bus and with the school.
What about health and safety?
Some common sense guidelines and a hazard register are included in tips and tricks for walking school bus.
The most important thing is have an adequate number of adults supervising the children on the walking school bus. Crossing busy roads and residents driving out of driveways are two major hazards. The Council has produced a leaflet that can be delivered to residents along walking school bus routes requesting that they watch out for children when leaving their driveways.
What free stuff is available?
The Council provides:
