Walking school bus
A Walking School Bus is a group of primary school children who walk to and from school along a safe and enjoyable set route, accompanied by a minimum of two parent driver/supervisors per 'bus'. One parent 'drives' at the front of the bus, while the other parent supervises at the rear. The walking bus picks up 'passengers' along the way at designated 'bus stops'.
Its a fun way for students to develop road confidence, explore their suburb and stay fit.
Its also great way for a school to manage local traffic issues and build a strong school community.
A Walking School Bus can be flexible to suit the needs of families using it. The 'bus' can go as seldom or as often as parents want to 'drive' it and children want to use it. This means that it can even run as little as one morning or afternoon each week.
Walking School Buses in Moreland
These Moreland schools have an active walking school bus program:
- Brunswick North West Primary School
- Oak Park Primary School
- St Oliver Plunkett's Catholic Primary School
Each bus has about ten students who start the day with some exercise and an adventure.
Contact your school administration support officer for more information about the walking school bus at your school.
How do I start a Walking School Bus at my school?
Start by talking to your school principal and your school's parents and friends group.
An effective walking school bus group has roughly five families who live close by and are available to volunteer as drivers and conductors and support from the school to help with with rostering.
How can Council help?
Moreland City Council can help generate interest in the walking school bus by providing promotion information in school newsletters and organising events at your school assembly.
We can also help plan the route and improve the safety of the walking route. We also have volunteer training information and an insentive program to keep parents involved in the program. Contact info@moreland.vic.gov.au for more information.
What other walking promotion programs are available for my school?
Council also supports walking to school with the 'Active Transport Challenge' - a program that encourages kids to walk, scoot or ride to school.
The school hosts an 'active travel day' once a month and students count the number of students who walk, scoot or ride to school. The school then enters the results into a competition.
Prizes are awarded to the school for:
- participating in the competition
- increasing the number of students who walk, scoot or ride to your school, and
- getting more students to walk, scoot or ride to school than rival schools.
Contact info@moreland.vic.gov.au to get involved.
The Active Transport Challenge is a part of the Ride2School program run by Bicycle Victoria with the assistance from 'Go For Your Life'.
