September 2004, #24


Walking School Bus? Bike Train?

What happened to the “good old days”, when most children walked to school, getting fresh air and exercise without even thinking about it? Well, in some ways, times have changed – distances might be longer, parents are dashing to work, concern about volume and speed of traffic, and overall safety.

October 13 is Alameda’s fourth annual Walk & Roll to School Day at all elementary schools and this would be a perfect time to create either a Walking School Bus or a Bike Train and start a new approach in getting to and from school.

First, a group of neighbors or friends get together and set a time and a location for the kids to meet. Each parent volunteers one day a week to be the “driver” of the bus or train. And off you all go. It can become quite an adventure as neighborhoods are explored along the way, new discoveries are made, friendships deepened, and an awareness of one’s surroundings is enhanced. Most importantly, kids are alert and awake when they arrive at school and start the day with some physical exercise. Studies have tied physical activity directly to learning, especially in younger students!

Walking/biking to school early on teaches children, through example, that things in their world are within reach. As they get older, they will be more independent, relying less on their parents to get them around town and more inclined to find their own way (walk, bike, bus).

Parents can cut down on their time-commitment through walking school buses and/or bike-trains which travel a designated route and kids are picked up along the way at special “bus” stops (someone’s house, a driveway, or local landmark). It is suggested that there be a minimum ratio of one adult “driver” to every eight children.

Safety concerns are often raised, but consider this: children are rarely abducted from the streets when in groups, and kids traveling to school in cars represent more accident casualties according to federal studies (children walking/biking result in 22% of traffic deaths, children in cars represent 75%). Walking and biking to school is safer! Neighborhoods with added foot traffic have less crime. Walking and biking to school creates a safer community.

Further benefits are: fewer cars around the school making it even safer to walk/ride, children enjoy “being part of a team”, a sense of community is strengthened as families get to know each other and children become friends, parents gain “extra time” when they don’t have to accompany their children to school every day, helps teach children good road sense and safety.

Have a theme day – sneaker days, “red” days (where everyone wears something red), visual scavenger hunt along the way, celebrate special days. Have Fun, the sky is the limit!

Create “travel cards,” aka frequent rider cards, and each time a child rides the bus or train, their card gets a check mark and maybe a contest could be created with some fun silly gift as a prize.

Kids could also name their bus or train, such as “Zippy Zebra” or the “Edison Express” – there’s a world of creativity just waiting to happen. Walk & Roll to School Day is just around the corner. Let’s see lots of Walking School Buses and Bike Trains.

If you have questions regarding pedestrian/bicycle safety, please call Sergeant Ted Horlbeck, Alameda Police Traffic Department at 337-8300. John Knox White and Audrey Lord-Hausman work with Pedestrian Friendly Alameda (www.pedfriendly.org) and Bike Alameda (www.bikealameda.org).

Go Back