Pilot Evaluation of a Walking School Bus Program in a Low-Income, Urban Community

This study evaluates the impact of a walking school bus on student transport in a low-income, urban neighborhood.

  • The intervention consisted of a part-time walking school bus coordinator and parent volunteers.
  • At intervention schools, three walking school buses were developed and maintained with an individual route to school (distances ranged from 0.3 to 1.5 miles long) and took 15-40 minutes from start to finish.
  • After 12-months of the intervention, the number of students who walked to the intervention school increased from 20% to 25%.
  • The number of students who walked to control schools decreased.

Mendoza, Jason A., Levinger, David D., and Johnston, Brian D. “Pilot evaluation of a walking school bus program in a low-income, urban community.” BMC Public Health. 9 (2009): 122-137.

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