Walking School Bus

The Walking School Bus Program is a VicHealth initiative that’s giving communities an effective and easy way to get children walking to school again.

A Walking School Bus is a school bus powered not by an engine but by legs. Children don’t sit inside this bus – they walk in a group to school, with an adult ‘driver’ in the front and an adult ‘conductor’ at the rear. The walkers are the bus. The bus travels along a set route to or from school, picking up or dropping off children along the way at designated ‘bus stops’. Bus stops can be meeting points along the route or each child’s front gate.

Today in Victoria nearly one-third of all children spend less than 5 minutes walking per day. Inactive children are more likely to be overweight – with the proportion of Australian children who are in this category now reaching 25%. Walking to and from school gives children the opportunity to engage in regular physical activity.

The ‘buses’ have become a very positive part of school and community life and offer many health, environmental and safety benefits.

Walking School Buses currently operate from Alphington Primary School, Princes Hill Primary School and Spensley St Primary School. To find out if there is one at your school, contact Council on 9205 5264

 

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Further information

Sustainable Transport
Richmond Town Hall
333 Bridge Road Richmond
Telephone 9205 5373
Email info@yarracity.vic.gov.au

Links

Within this site
Public Transport
Carsharing

External sites (Yarra City Council accepts no responsibility for the information or opinions contained within external sites)
TravelSmart
Metropolitan Transport Forum

Information supplied by: Electronic communications & design officer - 9205 5214 - 20 January 2006

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