We have an important electric school bus campaign to ensure we get diesel school buses off the road. In addition, teams could create some community-led initiatives to lower emissions, get moving and collectively make our neighborhoods more safe.

Could you start a walking (or biking) school bus initiative?

For Our Grandkids Victoria inspired the network with their walking school bus (photo below). From the walking school bus website: "A walking school bus is a group of children walking to school with one or more adults. If that sounds simple, it is, and that’s part of the beauty of the walking school bus. It can be as informal as two families taking turns walking their children to school to as structured as a route with meeting points, a timetable and a regularly rotated schedule of trained volunteers...A variation on the walking school bus is the bicycle train, in which adults supervise children riding their bikes to school." More resources on how to start one here.

Or start a bike bus?

A physical education teacher at an elementary school in Portland - Sam Balto - started a weekly bike bus project. It's a 2 mile ride where kids join the group along the route just like a school bus, until they all arrive at the school together. It's fun for the kids, increases exercise and green transportation by decreasing the amount of car trips it takes to get kids to school. 

It inspired Vancouver-based Mom Maya Goldstein to start a bike bus project for her kids' school. Check out the story! They launched the project on Earth Day and now have reoccurring bike bus every Friday. !

Or a pedal bus? Here's the inspiring story of the Punch Buggy Express...

Wildernook Fresh Air Learning in Saskatoon had a dream to boost cycling and health, while creating a team learning experience! All part of their programming for intergenerational connection and outdoor learning.

They raised funds to purchase a pedal bus and are launching a new program in May 2022 called Punch Buggy Express. The program will offer rides - helping kids connect with their surroundings, learn about their city and its history, and discover sustainable solutions for transportation through pedal bus tours that are led by local experts.