Media statement | 2 May 2007

New Walking School Bus kit aims to get kids moving

Getting Kiwi kids safely to school on their feet will be easier than ever with the launch today of a new ‘one-stop shop’ Walking School Bus resource kit.

The kit, launched this morning at Wellington’s Ridgway School by Transport Minister Annette King, is available free from Land Transport New Zealand. It contains everything parents and caregivers, teachers and others need to help get a walking school bus underway, including tips and guidelines, brochures and posters, stickers and certificates for kids.

Land Transport NZ Chief Executive Wayne Donnelly said the Walking School Bus kits were aimed at increasing the number of kids walking safely to and from school.

‘More walking means better fitness and health, less money spent on petrol, reduced energy use and fewer vehicle emissions, less congestion at the school gate and more social interaction for kids,’ Mr Donnelly said.

Results from the most recent Ministry of Transport household travel survey show that the proportion of primary school children walking to school has dropped from 42 percent in 1990 to 27 percent now, while the proportion being driven to school has jumped from 31 percent to 52 percent. At some schools nearly 90 percent of students are driven.

‘We know there is a lot of enthusiasm in our communities to turn those figures around and get Kiwi kids moving again. Thanks to the efforts of volunteer parents, teachers and others we had 60,000 students and 170 schools take part in Walk to School Week earlier this year, and that kind of energy and enthusiasm is the fuel that can drive Walking School Buses throughout the school year. These new kits will make sure schools get the best mileage out their walking buses,’ Mr Donnelly said.

For more information
Andy Knackstedt
Media Manager - Land Transport New Zealand
Ph: 04 931 8829  or  0212 763 222

What is a walking school bus?

Walking school buses provide a fun, safe, active and sustainable way for children to travel to and from school with adult supervision, and they are suitable for even the youngest pupils.

Each bus travels along a set route at a set time, with at least one adult ‘driver’, picking children up and walking with them to and from school. Some buses pick up and drop off children outside their homes, while others have designated ‘bus stops’.

The bus can be flexible to suit the needs of the families using it. It can be just a few children or it may have 50 children. It can go as often as caregivers want to ‘drive’ it, and children can use it every day or once a week.

Why set up a walking school bus?

Despite the benefits of walking, the number of children travelling to school by car doubled between 1990 and 2000. Today, more than half of New Zealand primary school children are driven to and from school, and nearly one third get very little or no regular exercise.

In some schools, as many as nine out of ten children are travelling by car. What’s more, extra traffic activity at the school gate makes for an unsafe environment.

This all adds to traffic congestion and extra vehicle costs. Short car trips between home and school consume a lot of energy in terms of fuel and emit tonnes of carbon dioxide into the air we breathe.

The walking school bus is an ideal solution to all of these problems.

What are the benefits of a walking school bus?

Walking school buses are great for children, their caregivers and the environment.

Children love being part of walking school buses – they enjoy the walk and meeting new friends along the way. Teachers often report that children arrive at school invigorated and ready to learn. All children are looked after by the parent volunteers who ensure they arrive at school or at the ‘bus stop’ safely.

A walking school bus eases traffic congestion around the school grounds (every child walking to school is potentially one less car on the road) and also provides a safe and environmentally friendly journey for children to and from school.

Walking to school is an easy way for caregivers to introduce exercise into a child’s daily routine.