First Lady Michelle Obama praised the use of "walking school buses" in speaking about her "Let's Move" fitness campaign last week, raising the question: What exactly is a "walking school bus"?
Speaking with mayors and local officials involved in town, city, and county "Let's Move" campaigns, she remarked:
And in Knox County, Tennessee, they’ve worked with the city of Knoxville to create a bike and share program for the kids in that community. They’ve printed new maps that promote dozens of miles of wonderful bike trails and routes, and they’ve created a walking school bus -- and I've heard more and more of this kind of walking school bus happening all over the country -- so that kids can get exercise on the way to school, kind of like we did when we were growing up. You remember the miles of walking you did with a sweet potato in your pocket? (Laughter.) We all heard that story. My mother repeated it just yesterday. (Laughter.)And that’s what Let’s Move is all about. That’s what we're really trying to do here. It’s about people all across this country coming together to take action to support the health of our kids. We’ve seen it happen in cities, towns and rural areas across the United States. [Emphasis added]
First lady Michelle Obama speaks to mayors and other officials about the initiative, "Let s Move! Cities, Towns and Counties," Wednesday, July 10, 2013, in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building on the White House complex in Washington. (Photo: AP)
The "walking school bus" may not be a term you're familiar with, but there is actually a website called walkingschoolbus.org encouraging people to begin their own.
While you may have first thought of a Flintstones-style creation where the walking children move the vehicle, a "walking school bus" appears to simply be a collection of children who walk to school accompanied by at least one adult.
"Studies show that fewer children are walking and biking to school, and more children are at risk of becoming overweight," the website says. "Changing behaviors of children and parents require creative solutions that are safe and fun. Implementing a walking school bus can be both."
(H/T: CNS News)
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