What is a Walking School Bus?
A Walking School Bus is a group of students walking safely with trained and screened adult volunteers along a set route to school. Walking School Buses are offered during select times of the school year.
What if we live too far away?
The Stop and Walk program is for you! Stop and Walk is when a parent or caretaker takes their child to a safe meeting place where at least two trained and background-checked adult volunteers will be waiting to walk with students along the Walking School Bus route.
Many stop and walk starting points will make it easy for you.
Who can join the Walking School Bus?
ALL CHILDREN ARE WELCOME!
No matter where you live you can register your child to participate in the Walking School Bus program at participating elementary schools. Routes are designed around where participating families live.
Simply obtain a registration form from your school office or the Safe Routes to School website and return according to instruction.
Parents and caretakers of children enrolled in the walking school buses are welcome to walk with the bus whenever they are available.
VOLUNTEERS
A Stop and Walk volunteer, as well as a Walking School Bus volunteer, can be a parent, grandparent or community member who has passed a background check and gets registered as an official school district volunteer. To learn more, call 707.253.6884
Roles and Responsibilities
PARENTS & CARETAKERS:
Assist children in dressing for the weather
Ensure children are ready to goat pick up time
Reinforce the Walking School Bus rules
Notify the Safe Routes to School liaison of absences
STUDENTS:
- Follow the rules at all times
- Respect other participants and volunteers
- Obey traffic laws
- Respect property
- Have FUN!
Benefits Everyone!
- It’s FUN!
- Increases physical activity and health
- Improves school performance
- Builds traffic safety skills
- Fosters enjoyment of the outdoors
- Creates opportunities for new friends
- Offers fun activities
- Shortens drive time
- Saves money by driving less
- Energizes child, helping them to be ready to learn
- Provides peace of mind knowing child is safer walking with trained adults with background checks than walking alone
- Creates quality time if you choose to walk with your child to Stop and Walk drop-off
- Improves air quality
- Reduced traffic noise and congestion
- More people walking and biking creates community