Sedentary lifestyles increase the risk for cardiovascular disease and type two diabetes. Active transportation, such as a Walking School Bus or Bike Train to and from school increases a student's physical activity. Many families choose to drive to and from school because they perceive barriers to safe walking and biking. Walking School Bus program interventions reduce barriers to walking and biking by creating safe and convenient routes and involving adult supervision. This work improves the health of the school-age children in the region, which results in a lower risk for cardiovascular disease and diabetes.
"She showed growth in social skills with making new friends, endurance in physical activity, and developed a positive attitude. Her mom shared that by the spring, her health had greatly improved due to walking to and from school with the WSB. She began sleeping better and performing better at school."
The Walking School Bus has been implemented by13 schools, including 14 new routes, 16 employed Leaders and 1 Walking School Bus Coordinator.
2,300 students have participated in the Walking School Bus and have been provided safe walking education by the WSB Coordinator and WSB Leaders.
Students continue to sign up and are participating more frequently.
The data shows that 68.8% of the students participating in the Walking School Bus were driven to school by their parents before joining the program.
Benefits have included an increase of an average of 32.3 minutes of physical activity per day, equating to an average of 160 minutes per week, per student.
In addition to physical activity, students have reported that they are making new friends and feeling better prepared to go to school after walking.
Parents have reported that their children perform better in school since walking and see behavioral improvements at home after walking in the afternoons.
Walking School Bus Leaders facilitate opportunities for the school community to gain education around walking and rolling near traffic.