14 March 2000
DOE LAUNCHES NEW "WALKING BUS"
What's got thirty two legs, can improve your health, reduces traffic jams and is bright yellow?
Answer, the "Walking Bus", a new Department of the Environment road safety initiative designed to get children to school safely without the need for the "school run".
The Walking Bus is not a vehicle, but a group of primary school children who walk to and from school, led by an adult, usually a parent, with another adult taking up the rear. The leading adult pushes a trolley which carries the children's schoolbags.
All Walking Bus passengers wear flourescent reflective jackets and children are supervised until they reach school, or home or are met by a parent. The Bus travels along a pre-arranged route collecting or dropping off children at bus stops along the way.
The first Walking Bus in Northern Ireland, which is taking children to and from Moneyrea Primary School, has been organised by Lorraine Gartley, the DOE's Senior Road Safety Education Officer for the South Eastern Area. Mrs Gartley commented, "The Walking Bus is a unique initiative, designed primarily to address the environmental issues associated with the school run.
"The school run can cause unnecessary traffic congestion when usually there are viable alternatives. Of course, by encouraging more children to walk to school, road safety becomes the primary issue and here the co-operation of the school is vital in organising supervisors for the bus."
The Walking Bus co-ordinator at Moneyrea Primary School is Lynda Bethel who is confident the project will have a number of benefits. Mrs Bethel said, "Moneyrea village has become very busy with through traffic in recent years, so an initiative such as this which reduces the number of cars is to be welcomed. Fewer cars means the roads are safer for the children.
"In addition, I think the children will benefit from the exercise of the brisk walk to and from school. We have organised a rota for parents who supervise the children, and I would thank them for their invaluable contribution to the Walking Bus. The Walking Bus initiative will also form the basis for discussions for all classes in the school. Pupils will look at issues such as how they come to school and how they cross the road."
For each trip made on the Walking Bus children have a membership card stamped, with prizes available for 25, 50, 75 and 100 stamps. The prizes have been kindly sponsored by Chambers Home Ltd, a local building contractor.
NOTES TO EDITORS:
- The Walking Bus can be seen in action at 11.00 am on Tuesday 14 March at Moneyrea Primary School, 36 Church Road, Moneyrea.
- For more information or to arrange photographs, please contact Michael Henderson, Department of the Environment Press Office, telephone (028) 9054 0014.