Walking school bus resource kit

Walking school buses are a safe, active and healthy way for children to get to school. And they're energy efficient and pollution free. A walking school bus is just as it sounds - an organised group of children walking to school together, with caregiver volunteers, the ‘drivers' and 'conductors'. Adult volunteers pick up kids and drop them off at specific stops at set times on a designated walking route. All the children are looked after by the volunteers, who ensure they arrive at school or their home stop safely. Walking school buses give children a sense of independence although they are part of a team. They provide a safe, healthy and fun way to travel to and from school, and both children and adults enjoy keeping fit. Many caregivers drive their kids to school because of safety fears. Walking school bus groups are focused around personal safety and road safety awareness. In July 2006 the responsibility for this kit was passed from the EECA to Land Transport. This programme is from Travel/Wise, managed by ARTA for the Auckland Region. The kit includes documentation in sections: introduction, resources, funding, health and safety, incentives to keep the bus going, newsletters and local information, notes and handouts, forms. It is made up of a large ring binder which is intended to have paperwork from running the 'bus' filed in it.