Walking School Bus

WAKEFIELD, Mass. (myfoxboston) - It's a new day, and Wakefield mother Sherri Carlson is taking the troops to school -- about three dozen of them. Sherri “drives” a walking school bus, which is a people-powered express to Dolbeare Elementary School.

“The biggest worry is to make sure they stay on the sidewalk and don't start veering into the street and watch out for dog poop. That's the two main concerns,” Carlson says.

Ted's blog: Walking School Bus
"The idea of walking to school may not be thrilling but recently when I had a chance to join fifty or so elementary school students in Wakefield I realized why they thought it was so much fun."

From the Carlson’s house, it's a half mile march. Kids and parents board at two stops along the way.

“We walk pretty much the entire year, my kids and myself to and from school, when it's above 32,” says another mom.

The Wakefield walking bus is part of a national effort to save gas and burn calories. And it's not unique to this town. Communities all over Massachusetts and New Hampshire are doing the same thing, like Newton, Arlington, Everett, and Boston.

The walking bus is nothing new but it is growing leaps and bounds. When it started back in 2001 there were only two schools involved in Massachusetts, and now there are 225.

It's pretty simple to get involved. In fact, the state will do most of the legwork needed to get a walking bus rolling.

“Massachusetts was one of the first states to get programs out the door. The children respond well to the environmental message, parents respond well to the notion that this is good for their children’s health and the kids like being together walking to school,” says Luisa Paiewonsky, the Mass Highway commissioner.

Schools can even apply for federal money to have sidewalks, crosswalks, and signage installed to make a route safer. An enthusiastic principal is also a big help.

“Personally, I think the ones that walk are probably a little more ready for school, just because they’ve got the fresh air and they had an opportunity to talk to their peers in a little more open environment than on a school bus,” says Phyllis Dubina, the principal of the Dolbeare School.

Just like their parents tell the stories of walking uphill to school, one day these children will get to tell war stories about trudging to school every day, but you get the feeling they wouldn't have it any other way.