Bussing by foot
Front: Anneliese and Nora Dueck, Ryan Martin, Ben Dueck, Faith Seibert, Maia Dueck, and Sarah Martin. Back: Dayna Dueck, Heidi Martin, JoAnne Seibert, and crossing guard Carol Vignale.
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“Walking to school is funner than driving,” says a young Ben Dueck.
It’s that sort of positive attitude towards braving chilly winds and inclement weather a group of South Park Elementary school parents want to ingrain in their children.
The families have ditched carbon emissions for warm coats and conversation during their walks to and from their homes in the Forest by the Bay neighbourhood to South Park school.
Safe Route Tsawwassen helped organize the “Walking School Bus,” which sees parents take turns walking the students to school.
On an early October morning the pink sweaters of Maia Dueck and Sarah Martin are the first sights emerging along a yellow and orange leaf-strewn path, followed by the sound of wheels on the sidewalk as Ryan Martin and Ben Dueck roll up on their scooters.
The children, their siblings, friends and parents stop at the intersection of 56 Street and 8A Avenue and wait as crossing guard and Safe Route Tsawwassen coordinator Carol Vignale presses the crosswalk button.
October is International Walk to School Month, created to promote the benefits of walking as well as safer streets and more walkable communities.
These Tsawwassen families hope their Walking School Bus will encourage others to do the same.
“They (the children) think it’s a safe thing to do, and they see a lot more walking to school than looking at the back of mom’s head (in a car),” says parent Heidi Martin.
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