Walking and Bike Bus: Design and Rehearse a Group Route

In groups, students plan a real walking bus or bike bus to get to school or to escort younger kids from a nearby elementary school: stops, schedule, roles and spoken commands. Then they rehearse it on foot on a mock route in the schoolyard, with crossings and stops.

How to play

1. Groups of six plan a real route on the worksheet with stops, schedule, roles (leader, sweeper and side marshals) and agreed spoken commands (8 min).
2. Set up a route in the schoolyard with cones and chalk that includes two crossings and a stop (4 min).
3. Walking rehearsal: the group moves two by two with the leader and sweeper in pinnies, halts at crossings on "Stop!", crosses on "Clear, let's cross!" and picks up classmates waiting at the stop (10 min).
4. Each group rehearses in front of another, which observes with a checklist and suggests two improvements (6 min).
5. Discussion: what it would take to launch it for real, such as permissions, families and volunteers (2 min).

Rules

• During the rehearsal, nobody passes the leader or falls behind the sweeper.
• Commands are always the same, and everyone knows them before setting off.
• The group walks at the pace of its slowest member.
• In the bike version, real or simulated, everyone wears a helmet and rides single file.

Variations

Adaptations

• Wheelchair user: joins the walking bus, and the group adjusts pace and route to them.
• Hearing impairment: add hand gestures to the spoken commands.
• Autism: takes the sweeper role, with a specific task: call out when everyone has crossed.

Learning goals

• Plan a group active commute with safety criteria.
• Take on leadership roles and responsibility for others.
• Value active travel as a sustainable alternative to the car.

Equipment for a class of 25

• cones: 30
• pinnies: 12
• worksheets: 6
• chalk: 2

Teacher tip

If there's an elementary school nearby, the project can end in a real walking bus escorted by high school students, with approval from both schools and families.

More main activities for High School