Walking School Bus Program

Seattle Public Schools

Purpose:

To encourage children to walk to school under the supervision of parents or other adults who teach and reinforce safe pedestrian skills

Target Population:

Elementary and middle school students in Seattle Public Schools

Program Goals:

• To reduce sedentary lifestyles in school-age children
• To provide an active and safe commute to school

Years in Operation:

2004 - present

Results:

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Funding:

The city of Seattle’s first school to participate in the program, Bailey Gatzert Elementary, was funded through a state grant. Additional participating schools are funded through private partnerships and foundations.

Key Partners:

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What Works and Why:

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Structure and Operations:

The Walking School Bus Program is coordinated by a part-time staff person and includes: an education program led by parents; low-cost traffic safety improvements on the urban roads; and encouragement efforts coordinated with the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s Active Seattle project. Instead of riding in a car or bus to school, students will join the program at different points in the school’s neighborhood. Students walk together with family members and staff along set routes. Children who normally ride the bus or ride with their parents to school can be dropped off at the starting point to walk to school.

Three safe walking routes were established at Bailey Gatzert (the first funded school), and significant increases in the proportion of children walking to school with an adult were observed. After a successful year at the pilot school, Seattle has incorporated the program at other schools.

Barriers to Success:

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More Information:

http://feetfirst.info

Download:

Download this program information in PDF format.