No wheels on the bus?

If you ever rode a school bus during your school days like I did, I’m sure you have some fond memories…and some horror stories too.  No air conditioning, that musty smell, three kids to a seat.  Little Johnny sneezing on your homework.  Ah, those were the days.  Well the folks at the USDA/ARS Children’s Nutrition Research Center at Baylor College of Medicine are trying to change some of that tradition in a very innovative way.  Introducing…the walking school bus.

Walk this way.

Instead of waiting for the traditional yellow school bus to pick you up, put on your sneakers and walk the route. Four Houston schools are utilizing the “walking school bus” method with great success.  Adults lead students wearing brightly colored vests in typical two-by-two bus fashion.  The program has been so successful this year that the schools plan on continuing the program in 2010.  To read more about the walking school bus program, see the summer Nutrition & Your Child newsletter.