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Belfast Healthy Cities

Our vision is that Belfast is recognised globally
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Healthy Cities 21st Century

Walking Bus Pilot Report

A partnership involving Belfast Healthy Cities; the Care Zone Project team; the Care Zone Community Champions; Youth Education health and advice (YEHA); primary schools and Expert Advisors to the Ministerial Advisory Group (MAG), for Architecture and the Built Environment for Northern Ireland jointly developed and trialled walking buses during ‘Walk to School’ week in May 2022.

A walking bus is a group of children walking part or all of their journey to school supervised by teachers and/or parents. The start of the route is usually located less than one mile from the school and in a suitable alternative drop off location for those that normally use the car to travel to school, as well as providing additional support to children who may be too young, or feel the walking environment is unsafe, to walk to school.

The aim of the Walking Bus Pilot was to:

• Increase walking;

• Reduce car dependency; and,

• Improve air quality and reduce congestion in local areas.

Three primary schools took part in the Pilot, Our Lady's Primary School, Deanby Gardens; Sacred Heart Primary School, Oldpark Avenue; and, Ballysillan Primary School, Ballysillan Road. Approximately 300 pupils provided feedback on the Pilot, 113 pupils (38%) highlighted the walking buses helped them to walk to school and 200 pupils (67%) wanted the walking buses to continue. Teachers and parents identified the key benefits of the Pilot included support for children to walk to school, increased exercise, and creation of good habits, socialising with and making new friends, more alert and ready for class, arriving to school on time, improved attendance, and reduced congestion near the school. Two of the schools continued to provide walking buses until the end of the academic year. Teachers are seeking support from political leaders for additional crossings to improve road safety along the route, and the Care Zone Community Champions undertook a walk assessment to identify further improvements to the local walking environment.

Following the success of the Pilot in promoting behavioural change, Belfast Healthy Cities and the partners involved, seek to continue to support the schools to independently provide regular walking buses with good uptake from pupils; to work with politicians and the Department for Infrastructure to make infrastructural changes to increase the safety of children walking to school; and, expand walking buses to more primary schools across Belfast.

The Walking Bus Pilot report sets out details of the Walking Bus Pilot developed in the Care Zone area in north Belfast, and provides information and guidance on how to develop similar walking buses. The report highlights the process used to develop the Walking Bus Pilot, uptake and feedback from pupils, teachers, parents and local residents, and the next steps.

If you would like support to develop a walking bus, please contact info@belfasthealthycities.com or 02890328811.

A partnership involving Belfast Healthy Cities; the Care Zone Project team; the Care Zone Community Champions; Youth Education health and advice (YEHA); primary schools and Expert Advisors to the Ministerial Advisory Group (MAG), for Architecture and the Built Environment for Northern Ireland jointly developed and trialled walking buses during ‘Walk to School’ week in May 2022.

A walking bus is a group of children walking part or all of their journey to school supervised by teachers and/or parents. The start of the route is usually located less than one mile from the school and in a suitable alternative drop off location for those that normally use the car to travel to school, as well as providing additional support to children who may be too young, or feel the walking environment is unsafe, to walk to school.

The aim of the Walking Bus Pilot was to:

• Increase walking;

• Reduce car dependency; and,

• Improve air quality and reduce congestion in local areas.

Three primary schools took part in the Pilot, Our Lady's Primary School, Deanby Gardens; Sacred Heart Primary School, Oldpark Avenue; and, Ballysillan Primary School, Ballysillan Road. Approximately 300 pupils provided feedback on the Pilot, 113 pupils (38%) highlighted the walking buses helped them to walk to school and 200 pupils (67%) wanted the walking buses to continue. Teachers and parents identified the key benefits of the Pilot included support for children to walk to school, increased exercise, and creation of good habits, socialising with and making new friends, more alert and ready for class, arriving to school on time, improved attendance, and reduced congestion near the school. Two of the schools continued to provide walking buses until the end of the academic year. Teachers are seeking support from political leaders for additional crossings to improve road safety along the route, and the Care Zone Community Champions undertook a walk assessment to identify further improvements to the local walking environment.

Following the success of the Pilot in promoting behavioural change, Belfast Healthy Cities and the partners involved, seek to continue to support the schools to independently provide regular walking buses with good uptake from pupils; to work with politicians and the Department for Infrastructure to make infrastructural changes to increase the safety of children walking to school; and, expand walking buses to more primary schools across Belfast.

The Walking Bus Pilot report sets out details of the Walking Bus Pilot developed in the Care Zone area in north Belfast, and provides information and guidance on how to develop similar walking buses. The report highlights the process used to develop the Walking Bus Pilot, uptake and feedback from pupils, teachers, parents and local residents, and the next steps.

If you would like support to develop a walking bus, please contact info@belfasthealthycities.com or 02890328811.

Walking Bus Pilot Report

Watch the Walking Bus Pilot Video