What is the Walking School Bus?

The Walking School Bus is like a carpool, except without the car. It is made up of families in your neighborhood who walk to school with other Lum elementary students.  The “Bus” is mostly children with one or two adults who walk from home and meet along green-outlined streets on the map below.

Lum School Route

The Walking School Bus is a great way to meet your neighbors, provide morning exercise for your children and have them learn about their neighborhood. It reduces traffic and pollution in our neighborhoods, and is also a fun way to socialize before school starts.

Currently, one “Bus” consists of four families who walk from Clinton, Walnut and Willow, down Willow to Otis, and then along Sandcreek Way to Lum. We meet at Walnut and Clinton, and Clinton and Willow between 7:50 and 8:00, so that we can get to school by 8:10. Parents alternate which days of the week they walk with the students. Our “Bus” usually includes five to seven Lum students, plus some of their younger siblings. Families in the Willow-Clinton area are welcome to join us.

How do I start my own Walking School Bus?

The best way to start your own Walking School Bus is by picking a day to walk to school with your child. You will probably see other students and their families walking together along Grand, Otis, Shoreline, or Willow. See if they live nearby, and then pick a time to do a test-walk (be sure to give yourself some extra time for that test walk).

Your “Bus” does not have to walk every day, but the more families want to participate, the more often your child will be able to walk to school.

If you need assistance contacting other families in your neighborhood who want to form a “Bus”, contact Blanche Kim at blanchekim@comcast.net.