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‘Walking Bus’ Makes All Stops
Spider webs and sprinklers along the way

By Jane Healy

Last year I had the pleasure of 'driving' a group of school children on a Walking School Bus from Paul Revere Primary and Intermediate Schools in Blue Island.

Each afternoon, I would pick up my “kids” to head off on a designated route that had several “bus stops”. For many kids it was door-to-door service. We averaged 14 children a day – through sun, heat, rain, snow, wind and sleet – with a high of 42 kids in the blissful autumn days of 2005. Collectively, I estimate we walked 3,570 miles.

The author with her walking school bus "passengers" outside Paul Revere School.

Each day brought different conversations and activities. We would stop to check out a funnel-web spider one day, and jump through a sprinkler the next. Autumn occasioned leaf collecting or better yet, jumping in the leaves piled up along the curb. Winter brought talks about snowflakes or cloud types, or the occasional snowball fight.

Through it all, I established friendships and developed a deep respect for the children I walked with each day. I learned a great deal about the community I lived in as well. It's amazing how your perspective changes when you walk or ride your bike rather than zipping by in a car.

The national Safe Routes to School program encourages children to walk or bike to school by reducing the barriers that keep them from doing so. In some cases this is a lack of sidewalks or traffic signals. In other communities it can be the lack of bike locks and racks, or an aging infrastructure.

Making streets safe allows children to walk or ride. They improve their health, enjoy active, unstructured downtime, learn about their community and nature, and even develop new friendships. International Walk to School Day is Oct. 4. If your local school doesn't participate, contact your principal or superintendent about the Safe Routes to School Program.

Jane Healy is a member of the District 130 School Board and the CBF Board of Directors