By LORNA COLLIER
KNIGHT RIDDER NEWS SERVICE
Tuesday, June 24, 2003

Far from the days when kids strolled to school on tree-lined sidewalks through "Leave It to Beaver" neighborhoods miraculously bereft of crime, only 10 percent nationwide now regularly make the trek on foot. Even among those students who live within a mile of their schools, only 25 percent are regular walkers.

While school liability, safety and sheer distance make "walkers" a rarity, for those who live reasonably close to their schools, the Walking School Bus offers a way to revive a healthy habit.

The program, which originated in the United Kingdom, teams a small group of students - usually neighbors - with one or more adult volunteers for the daily walk. One adult is at the "bus" head, another brings up the rear and stops are made for children along the route.

"It's an idea in this country that is just taking shape," says Christian Valiulis, associate director of the Pedestrian and Bicycle Information Center in Chapel Hill, N.C. "You see it in its most evolved form by looking at it in other countries - England, New Zealand, Australia and Canada - where you have the kids in fluorescent vests. It's phenomenal."

Only a handful of U.S. communities - Chicago being the first and largest- are testing the concept, Mr. Valiulis says, usually as part of the Safe Routes to School program funded by the U.S. Department of Transportation.

Last year, an Indiana, Pa., school district began the walk with nearly 60 kids who make a daily trek of 15 minutes one way. The district offers the "bus" service only to kids who live within one mile of school, too close a distance to qualify for the real bus.

Even this year's snowy Pennsylvania winter hasn't slowed down the bus. "We do this every day, rain or shine, snow or whatever," says Leann Chaney, a grant development specialist and a volunteer walker.

For those who would like to test-drive the idea, try it out on Oct. 8, International Walk to School Day. Or to rev up the engines on your own, here's how to get started:

First, find a few families who live close to each other and ask them to experiment with a Walking School Bus. Remember to start small; try one "bus" for a few weeks and see how it goes.

If all goes well, provide the school with a survey to gauge community interest in joining up. (A sample survey can be found at www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/dnpa/kidswalk/resources.htm)

Display street maps at your school or send them home with students. Ask interested adults to volunteer by signing their names next to where they live on the map.

Sort the responses into potential routes, linking clusters of nearby households. Map out routes for the group.

Organize a meeting with the group to set up the "driver" roster and pick a coordinator for each bus.

Get parental consent for each student "riding" the bus.

Organize a meeting with school administration, interested teachers, police and volunteers to explain and discuss potential problems. It may take several meetings to sort out routes, schedules and volunteer "drivers."

For more information:

Walking School Bus: www.walkingschoolbus.org

Walk to School Day (Oct. 8): www.walktoschool.org

Kids Walk-to-School Guide: www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/dnpa/kidswalk

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