Walking buses

A walking bus is a line of children who walk to school along a set route accompanied by parent volunteers. Like a bus there are scheduled bus stops where children are picked up at specific times. A walking bus is a fun way to help children learn pedestrian and road safety skills, improve health and fitness, reduce traffic congestion near schools and promotes friendship and conversation.

Preparation:

• Discuss the idea of a walking bus with teachers, parents and pupils to gauge interest and possibilities at your school. The walk could include a particular class level or a specific class – or even cover a specific residential area. There are many possibilities.
• Set up a small task force consisting of teachers and parents to plan the route and execute the walk. Remember to inform school management, the road safety officer at the school and the school crossing patrol about your school bus. Important: investigate any issues regarding liability and insurance.
• Identify a route to school and prepare a detailed time table with specific bus stops. When planning the route make sure to consider traffic safety issues. Find a group of parents who would like to be volunteer escorts. The number of volunteers needed depends on the age level and number of children in the bus as well as on local traffic conditions. To make it fun, you may consider appointing a ‘driver’ leading the bus in front (perhaps even wearing a driver’s cap and holding a wheel or a horn) and a ‘conductor’ walking at the back. You could also combine the walk with singing games or the like.
• Distribute the bus route and timetable to all interested parties along with a reply slip or an e-mail address for signing up to the event. Participants in the walk should indicate at which bus stop they will get on the bus. Encourage parents to join the walking bus with their children. Ensure the permission of parents whose children join the bus without accompaniment of their own parents/escorts.
• Consider bringing a pushcart to transport school bags, and the possibility of providing school caps, T-shirts or fluorescent tabards for the children to wear.
• Prepare a list of all registered participants including their bus stops. This list should be used for ticking off the ‘passengers’ as they get on the bus.
• Possibly contact local media to see if they could be interested in covering the event.
• Register your walk on the Global Diabetes Walk website; www.globaldiabeteswalk.net

In the days before the walk:

• Remind everyone why we are doing the Global Diabetes Walk
• Explain about diabetes and how to lead a healthy lifestyle
• Remember that you are not alone - thousands of others around the world will be walking with you!
• Prepare the children for the walking bus experience. Remember to discuss traffic rules.

On the day of the walk:

• The bus team meets at the first bus stop. Register the passengers as the bus moves along its route. When you reach the school, you may consider offering children and parents something to drink, fresh fruit and a healthy snack to start their day.
• Distribute caps, T-shirts etc, if relevant
• Dont forget to update the website with your results.
• And most importantly, have fun!