A Walking School Bus is a group of children who walk to school together regularly under the

supervision of trained adult mentors. Routes can include individual homes, community centers,

parks, or other locations that address community needs.

Young people learn pedestrian safety, develop healthy habits, and make new friends. The

community benefits through decreased traffic congestion and improved air quality. Simply put:

it’s a win-win!

Benefits:Learn Pedestrian Safety

Increased Physical ActivityNew Friendships

Reduced Traffic CongestionImproved Air Quality

By the Numbers:7 Schools11 Routes

70 Volunteers346 Youth Served

Safe Routes to School:Evaluation

EngineeringEducation

EncouragementEnforcement

2014 PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS

Walk Safely With Us!Walking School Bus teaches young people how to safely walk our streets through a unique experiential learning approach. Results from our Year 1 post-test highlight the success of this approach, as large majorities have mastered the concept of crosswalk usage (93%), navigating streets where traffic is present (85%), and always looking “left, right, left” when crossing the street (64%).

OUR SPONSORS

Participating Schools

BrevardStevenson Elementary

OrangeBrookshire ElementaryEagle’s Nest ElementaryLakemont ElementaryLake Sybelia ElementaryMillenia Elementary

VolusiaIndian River Elementary

BUILDING STRONGER COMMUNITIES

Spotlight: Brookshire ElementaryThe Central Florida region regularly ranks among the most dangerous areas in the country for pedestrians, prompting many parents to rule out walking as a means of school transportation. Brookshire Elementary, a neighborhood school in Winter Park, Florida, chose to fight back. Their PTA partnered with UCF Walking School Bus to school launch a beginning in April 2014. There are currently 20 youth participating in this program, which walks along two routes on Wednesday mornings.

BenefitsLearn pedestrian safety

Increased physical activity

New friendshipsReduced traffic

congestionImproved air quality

Support for SchoolsStaff liasons

Volunteer trainingEnrollment systems

Resource developmentRoute mapping

Walking School Bus involvement has social and emotional benefits. Participants demonstrated increased understanding of the link between individual choices and long-term health outcomes (15% gain). They were also less likely to approve of stealing (30% decline), view teasing in a positive light (13% decline), or see fighting as an acceptable problem-solving approach (9% decline).