Walking Bus - History

History

The concept of the walking bus was first invented in Australia 1992 by David Engwicht and introduced in the United Kingdom in 1998 by Hertfordshire County Council. It was first used by pupils of Wheatfields Junior School in St Albans, United Kingdom in 1998

Walking Buses have remained popular in the United Kingdom and have recently gained a level of popularity elsewhere in Europe, North America and New Zealand. Proponents of walking buses say that its aims are to:

• Encourage physical activity by teaching children the skills to walk safely, how to identify safe routes to school, and the benefits of walking
• Raise awareness of how walkable a community is and where improvements can be made
• Raise concern for the environment
• Reduce crime and take back neighbourhoods for people on foot
• Reduce traffic congestion, pollution, and speed near schools
• Share valuable time with local community leaders, parents, and children

In Auckland, New Zealand, as at November 2007, one hundred schools run 230 Walking School Buses with over 4,000 children and 1,500 adults participating.

In some countries, parents and/or children on walking buses are encouraged to wear brightly coloured jackets or waistcoats. This has led to criticism that the walking bus is too regimented, and fails to achieve its original purpose of improving children's independent mobility. David Engwicht, whose 1992 book "Reclaiming our Cities and Towns" is credited by some as the origin of the Walking School Bus concept, has since stated that "The moment the Walking Bus turns into an official program, it creates some significant difficulties, particularly in litigious and risk-adverse cultures."