Take the walking school bus

A walking school bus is a fun, safe, active and sustainable way for children to travel to and from school with adult supervision.

Each ‘bus’ walks along a set route, with at least one adult ‘driver’ picking children up at designated stops and walking them to school. The process is reversed in the afternoons, when the children are coming home from school.

Walking to school has a lot of benefits for children, their caregivers and the environment. It also means less traffic congestion around the school gate.

For children, it’s all positive. By walking to school, they:

• arrive at school invigorated and ready to learn
• have fun with friends
• learn how to cross roads safely and develop independence
• get physical exercise and fresh air
• learn good habits for the future
• help reduce air pollution.

For caregivers, encouraging children to walk to school and walking with them means they:

• save money on petrol
• avoid adding to traffic congestion at the school gate
• help reduce air pollution
• get physical exercise and fresh air
• become more involved in the local community and meet their children’s friends
• teach their children road safety skills.

Visit the Land Transport NZ website to find out more about walking school buses, including how to start one.