Get on Board With a Walking School Bus!
A walking school bus is a group of children who walk to school with one or more adults, and it’s a great way to create community and encourage more students to walk to school.
While the number of families and students involved and the frequency (every day, once a week, or on special days) may vary, key characteristics of a walking school bus include:
A designated route
Scheduled “stops” along the route
Supervision by one or more trained adults
The Kansas Safe Routes to School (SRTS) Program encourages schools, communities, and caregivers to register as part of their walking school bus community to receive support, resources, and a free kit (reflective vest, first aid kit, stop sign, and more!) to make sure your efforts are successful. Register your walking school bus with the Kansas SRTS Program here.
Check out pages 12-13 of the Kansas Safe Routes to School Idea Book to learn more about the materials you’ll need and the steps you can follow to establish your own walking school bus!
Downloadable Templates
We created a few fillable templates for you to use when planning and promoting your walking school bus. Feel free to download them to use, or treat them as a guide to create your own!
Templates for getting the word out:
Walking school bus flyer (8.5” x 11”)
Walking school bus poster (11” x 17”)
Informational yard sign (2’ x 3’)
Templates for staying safe and organized:
Caregiver information letter
Supporting Materials
The Kansas SRTS Program has created a variety of resources that are helpful in organizing your walking school bus and educating your community about pedestrian safety:
Caregiver Pedestrian Safety Tips (in Spanish too!)
Pedestrian Safety Lesson (geared towards students in K-2nd grade)
Kansas SRTS Idea Book (check out the info on Park and Walk Programs and Big Events to take your walking school bus to the next level!)
More Information