

	Create a Walking School Bus Fewer children walk or bike to school than did so a generation ago IN 1969, 48 percent of students walked or biked to school This an opportunity lost. Walking to biking to school gives children time for physical activity and a sense of responsibility and independence, allows them to enjoy being outside; and provides them time to socialize with their parents and friends and to get to know their neighborhoods As much as 26 percent of morning traffic can be school-related. Traffic can lead to even less walking or biking. As more children are driven, more parents become convinced that traffic conditions make it unsafe for walking or bicycling and they join the line of cars at the school If more children walked or biked to school, it would reduce the number of cars near the school at pick-up and drop-off times making it safer for walkers and bicyclists and reducing traffic congestion Physical Activity Most kids aren't getting the exercise they need Among 9-13 year-old children, 61.5 percent do not engage in organized physical activity during non-school hours; 22.6 percent do not participate in any free time physical activity. As age or grade in school increases, physical activity participation drastically declines. Experts recommend that children get at least 60 minutes of physical activity on most, preferably all, days of the week. It takes five to ten minutes for children to walk a quarter of a mile or bike an entire mile Walking or biking to and from school is an easy way for children to get some physical activity each day, which all children need Less active children are more likely to be overweight. The percentage of overweight children aged 6-19 has approximately tripled over the past 30 years. According to 1999 to 2000 data, almost 9 million children and teens in this age range are overweight. Two recent studies found that walking t school is associated with higher overall physical activity throughout the day. Potential benefits of physical activity for youth include: Bone and blood pressure control Reduction in the risk of diabetes Improved psychological welfare Better academic performance Safety Waking and bicycling need to be safe transportation options which means creating safe environments and teaching safety skills to walkers, bicyclists and drivers. Safe walking and bicycling environments include: Neighborhood schools that are within walking and bicycling distance from homes Improved opportunities to cross streets (such as the presence of adult crossing guards, raised medians or traffic and pedestrian signals) Sidewalks or bike-paths that connect homes with schools Slow vehicle speeds accomplished through roadway safety measures (traffic calming) and/or police enforcement where needed Safe Routes to School Safe Routes to School programs are sustained efforts by parents, other community members, community leaders and local, state, and federal governments to improve the health and well-being of children by enabling and encouraging them to walk and bicycle to school. In July 2005, Congress passed federal legislation that established a national Safe Routes to School program. The program dedicates a total of $612 million towards SR2S from 2005 to 2009. Several states have dedicated funds to Safe Routes to School programs. Many communities launch Safe Routes to School programs as a result of Walk to School events. Walking School Buses This year we are emphasizing Walking School Buses as a means of helping our children to walk or bike to school safely Walking buses protect children from "stranger danger" Buses help children to learn where to cross and walk safely When children walk in groups they are more visible to drivers When Parents can be reassured that their children can walk to and from school safely they will be more likely to let them walk What is a Walking School Bus? A walking school bus is made up of group of children who walk to and from school along a set safe route, accompanied by a minimum of two adult drivers/supervisors. The walking school bus picks up passengers along the way at designated bus stops The walking school bus should run rain or shine and maintain a regular schedule Benefits of a Walking School Bus: Prevent pedestrian injuries to children Pedestrian safety for children walking to and from school An opportunity for children to learn safe pedestrian skills Increased physical activity, health, and well-being Reduction of traffic congestion around schools and residential neighborhoods Cleaner air How to get a Walking School Bus started: A Walking School Bus can be organized by parents, teachers, schools, local councils, or interested community groups. Step 1 - Get support of the principal, PTA, parents, students, teachers, etc. Step 2 - Organize a meeting and get the word out Step 3 - Survey the school community for participants & volunteers Step 4 - Map out potential routes Step 5 - Establish the Walking School Bus route and schedule, this includes: Adult driver roster (2 per Walking School Bus: one leads the Walking School Bus, while the other supervises the rear) Student roster (list of all the students that will take the Walking School Bus) Days and times Walking School Bus will operate Route of each Walking School Bus Step 6 - Implementation of the Walking School Bus For more information visit: http://www.health.utah.gov/vipp/pedestrianSafety/overview.html

Create a Walking School Bus

Fewer children walk or bike to school than did so a generation ago

IN 1969, 48 percent of students walked or biked to school
This an opportunity lost. Walking to biking to school gives children time for physical activity and a sense of responsibility and independence, allows them to enjoy being outside; and provides them time to socialize with their parents and friends and to get to know their neighborhoods

As much as 26 percent of morning traffic can be school-related.

Traffic can lead to even less walking or biking. As more children are driven, more parents become convinced that traffic conditions make it unsafe for walking or bicycling and they join the line of cars at the school
If more children walked or biked to school, it would reduce the number of cars near the school at pick-up and drop-off times making it safer for walkers and bicyclists and reducing traffic congestion

Physical Activity

Most kids aren't getting the exercise they need

Among 9-13 year-old children, 61.5 percent do not engage in organized physical activity during non-school hours; 22.6 percent do not participate in any free time physical activity.
As age or grade in school increases, physical activity participation drastically declines.
Experts recommend that children get at least 60 minutes of physical activity on most, preferably all, days of the week.

It takes five to ten minutes for children to walk a quarter of a mile or bike an entire mile

Walking or biking to and from school is an easy way for children to get some physical activity each day, which all children need
Less active children are more likely to be overweight.
The percentage of overweight children aged 6-19 has approximately tripled over the past 30 years.
According to 1999 to 2000 data, almost 9 million children and teens in this age range are overweight.

Two recent studies found that walking t school is associated with higher overall physical activity throughout the day.

Potential benefits of physical activity for youth include:

Bone and blood pressure control
Reduction in the risk of diabetes
Improved psychological welfare
Better academic performance

Safety

Waking and bicycling need to be safe transportation options which means creating safe environments and teaching safety skills to walkers, bicyclists and drivers.

Safe walking and bicycling environments include:

Neighborhood schools that are within walking and bicycling distance from homes
Improved opportunities to cross streets (such as the presence of adult crossing guards, raised medians or traffic and pedestrian signals)
Sidewalks or bike-paths that connect homes with schools
Slow vehicle speeds accomplished through roadway safety measures (traffic calming) and/or police enforcement where needed

Safe Routes to School

Safe Routes to School programs are sustained efforts by parents, other community members, community leaders and local, state, and federal governments to improve the health and well-being of children by enabling and encouraging them to walk and bicycle to school.

In July 2005, Congress passed federal legislation that established a national Safe Routes to School program. The program dedicates a total of $612 million towards SR2S from 2005 to 2009.
Several states have dedicated funds to Safe Routes to School programs.
Many communities launch Safe Routes to School programs as a result of Walk to School events.

Walking School Buses

This year we are emphasizing Walking School Buses as a means of helping our children to walk or bike to school safely

Walking buses protect children from "stranger danger"
Buses help children to learn where to cross and walk safely
When children walk in groups they are more visible to drivers
When Parents can be reassured that their children can walk to and from school safely they will be more likely to let them walk

What is a Walking School Bus?

A walking school bus is made up of group of children who walk to and from school along a set safe route, accompanied by a minimum of two adult drivers/supervisors.

The walking school bus picks up passengers along the way at designated bus stops

The walking school bus should run rain or shine and maintain a regular schedule

Benefits of a Walking School Bus:

Prevent pedestrian injuries to children
Pedestrian safety for children walking to and from school
An opportunity for children to learn safe pedestrian skills
Increased physical activity, health, and well-being
Reduction of traffic congestion around schools and residential neighborhoods
Cleaner air

How to get a Walking School Bus started:

A Walking School Bus can be organized by parents, teachers, schools, local councils, or interested community groups.

Step 1 - Get support of the principal, PTA, parents, students, teachers, etc.

Step 2 - Organize a meeting and get the word out

Step 3 - Survey the school community for participants & volunteers

Step 4 - Map out potential routes

Step 5 - Establish the Walking School Bus route and schedule, this includes:

Adult driver roster (2 per Walking School Bus: one leads the Walking School Bus, while the other supervises the rear)

Student roster (list of all the students that will take the Walking School Bus)

Days and times Walking School Bus will operate

Route of each Walking School Bus

Step 6 - Implementation of the Walking School Bus

For more information visit: http://www.health.utah.gov/vipp/pedestrianSafety/overview.html