Residents of Scott Road might well have seen a strange sight in recent weeks walking up the road. Every morning now, starting from Grimesthorpe Road North and boldly striding its way up is a new way for children to get to school. What is it you may ask, this pied piper enticing our children?
It’s the Walking Bus, run by parents from Firs Hill Community Primary School and ‘driven and conducted’ by our Community Wardens. The scheme has been introduced by SCC Road Safety Team and goes to Firs Hill School and St Catherine’s.
The ‘bus’ works by having different meeting points or bus stops along the route where children have arranged to meet the bus. The driver and conductor then carry along the route collecting other children at their designated points until they reach school.
As bus co-ordinator I think it has huge benefits for everybody. The children arrive at school in time, more alert and ready to learn, the car congestion and school gate parking is eased, it reduces pollution, exercises your children and teaches them road safety skills, plus for parents who work it gives them the reassurance that their children are getting to school safely.
“We really like it,” said the children who travel on the bus at the moment.
Currently the ‘bus’ only runs along Scott Road, but if more parents and children want to be involved there is no reason why more routes can’t be set up.
If parents and children want to know more about this bus or setting up another, please contact Gaby on 0787 627 1857 or Karen Vickers, Road Safety officer on 0114 273 6162.
by Gaby Spinks