Missouri Bicycle News

The Walking School Bus is a pilot program, tested last year in the Webster Groves (Mo.) School District, designed to make walking to school safer by providing adult supervision. . . .

"The designated adult `driver' picks up riders along a set route, on foot, at specific `bus stops' along the way. The `passengers' walk to school together."

Perhaps the biggest success story [of Walking School Buses] has been in Chicago, where nearly 90 percent of the 422,000 public school children walk to school. Following the success of the city's participation in International Walk to School Day in 1997, Mayor Richard Daley set aside funds to promote safe walking routes through neighborhoods and funding for parents to walk groups of children to school.

* It encourages physical fitness. A 15-minute walk to school, and the 15-minute return trip, meet the U.S. surgeon general's guideline for maintaining fitness.

* It raises concern for the environment by reducing pollution levels from cars. "Everyone benefits from cleaner air," Welty said.

* It reduces traffic congestion near schools, improving safety.