The Walking School Bus Project
About the Walking School Bus
The Walking School Bus aims to maximise child road safety on the school journey, and to encourage healthy exercise habits in children. It works through a group of families forming a roster to take turns at walking their children to school, either from the 'drivers' house or by 'picking up' children en route to school. Typically, each WSB is made up of several families, with one parent 'driving' up to eight children.
Surveys of parents show that they would let their children walk to school more often if children were in a supervised group. We carried out a Walking School Bus Project to find out the best way of carrying the idea out. It's an idea that works well overseas, and well worth a try here. Since the establishment of the first walking school buses in Christchurch, 25 schools have participated in the programme.
Fun, flexibility and enthusiasm are the keys to successful WSBs. They are not an all or nothing affair, and operate on times and days to suit the needs of the families involved. The big outcome is that children get to school safely and actively, experiencing the street environment first hand while being supervised - arguably the best form of road safety education.
The Walking School Bus Project
Following on from the Walk to School Days that were held in Christchurch in 1999 and 2000, the first Walking School Buses were started in Christchurch. To investigate the idea further, the Council took part in a research project with Pinnacle Research .
The Project developed a unique 'network' approach. This meant surveying school communities on their level of interest and availability to be part of a WSB. The outcome has been to organise and develop a 'network' of WSB groups in a school, as opposed to individual or 'role model' types which tended to have a short life span.
Schools are enthusiastic about their walking school buses, with adults and children appreciating their benefits. The social benefits as well as the health and safety ones have also been noted. Some WSBs can take on a distinct life of their own - a Gilberthorpe WSB, with up to twenty children on it, had theme days from time to time, eg. dressing up at Easter.
Here's what one parent has to say:
"From our experience of the Walking School Bus it has only been a positive thing. It gets all of us walking more and the children don't complain about walking like they used to. Socially it's great because the children meet other children that they otherwise would've known only by sight. My children have formed some good friendships because of the WSB. The grown-ups get to know other grown-ups better to!
Parents no longer have to get their children to and from school every day. On days I'm not rostered on I get an extra hour or so at the end of the day to myself. On days the weather is too bad to walk we are still better off because we usually car-pool with the other families on the WSB.
Our WSB works for families who use it a.m. and p.m., families who use it just am or just p.m., and families who only use it one or two days a week. I personally believe that the more families involved the better. If you have five plus families in your group then there is more flexibility with the roster."
Walking School Bus Guidelines
Apart from the WSBs that were set up at several schools, a big achievement the initial WSB Project was the development of very user friendly WSB Guidelines. These outlined the straightforward process of surveying and networking families into WSB groups. These guidelines were adopted by the Energy Efficiency Conservation Authority (EECA) for its Walking School Bus Guide for Parents and Teachers, a copy of which can be obtained by emailing EECA’s walking school bus coordinator at: streetwise@eeca.govt.nz For its part, the Council will fully support schools wanting to give the WSB a go through the most effective method - the network approach.
Walking School Bus Support Kit Available
The Council wants to actively support schools setting up Walking School Buses. We've developed a WSB Support Kit for families wanting to set up a WSB. All items in the kit are available, at no cost, to families wanting to belong to a Walking School Bus, who can then choose what they would like from it.
The full kit contains:
- A pamphlet explaining the Walking School Bus
- Easy to wear sashes for visibility, identity and a sense of pride
- Fridge magnets for names and telephone numbers
- Travel cards for children (to complete and return for certificates of achievement)
- Child sized umbrellas
Along with the School Health Service, we're more than happy to come and talk to schools about the Walking School Bus - it could be a terrific health and safety initiative for your school.
What Schools Need To Do
It's simple - you're commitment is the main thing needed. WSBs are a positive and hands-on action that school communities can undertake to address issues surrounding the school journey. With our help to carry out the legwork, you'll find it a rewarding process to be involved in.
For more information email The Schools Coordinator or download the Walking School Bus Brochure.
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