Hamlin Park School Debuts the Walking School Bus
School #74 students celebrate International Walk & Bike to school day with their new Safe Routes to School initiative through GObike Buffalo
October 3rd is International Walk and Bike to School day, and Hamlin Park Elementary School #74 will celebrate with a new way of getting to school – the Walking School Bus. The concept of a Walking School Bus involves a group of children walking to school with one or more adults. Hamlin Park has volunteer walkers who have approximately 30 students on their four Walking School Bus routes, which are proving to be popular and fun. #74 has a route for each compass direction in order to afford as many students as possible the opportunity to walk to school.
The response for this start-up has been great and, according to organizers, “Each week parents who see us walking are signing their children up as well as volunteering to become escorts. Needless to say, that has been very gratifying for the volunteers on the route, ” said Beverly Crowell, SRTS Coordinator for GObike Buffalo. As the number of volunteers expand, so too will the number of Walking Bus days.
On October 3rd, the four walking school bus groups will arrive at Hamlin Park at 8:55am, then proceed to the auditorium as a group. Buffalo Public Schools Community Superintendent Casandra Herrington, along with Assemblywoman Crystal Peoples-Stokes, Erie County Legislator Timothy Hogue, and Councilman Demone Smith will be guest walkers and will also help to award prizes to essay and poster contest winners.
Hamlin Park School 74 was chosen as the first school in Buffalo to participate in the Safe Routes to School Program. GObike Buffalo is working to provide safe and healthy alternatives for traveling to school through the Walking School Bus, Recycle-A-Bicycle program and bicycle safety rodeo implementing an environmentally friendly and socially important program for students.