Detailed description (English): We have set up several lines of walking buses in our city, aimed at walking children to school. Our association is called Melgobus, which is a play of words between bus and Melgo (since the inhabitants of our city are called Melgoriens)
Children are picked up at bus stops and they walk all together to school.
One parent is responsible for accompanying the group of children each day. The Melgobus works as a real bus, with a definite timetable and dedicated bus stops, children wait for the group at the bus stop in order to go to school all together.
Parents organize themselves at the beginning of each week to decide who is able to walk the children to school the coming week. Parents are free to decide each week on the day they will be available or not, if their child will participate or not. All the conversations are made via a private group on whatsApp.
Target group(s): Children between 6 and 11 (elementary school pupils) living in the city of Mauguio (in the south of France)
Objectives: Our objectives are to reduce the traffic around schools, to make parents and children meet in order to improve social links between parents and between pupils, to help children to become independent. Walking to school is also a way to improve the health.
Partner: the town hall of Mauguio
France