In North America every schoolday, fleets of cheesewagons fire up their dirty old engines to bus kids to school, even in cities where there is transit or schools within walking distance. Moms by the millions crank up the minivan or the SUV to drive their kids four blocks to school.

Meanwhile, we have a carbon dioxide crisis, a fuel supply crisis, a road congestion crisis, and a childhood obesity crisis.

In the UK, it is walk to school week. (North America celebrates this in October) Schools all have inflatable globes a meter in diameter, showing the amount of CO2 emitted on the average drive to school.

Parents often list child safety as the biggest reason for driving their kids; there is no evidence that they are any less safe than children were fifty years ago. However one UK organization is dealing with this through the ingenious walking bus, where

“Each walking bus had an adult ‘driver’ at the front and and an adult ‘conductor’ bringing up the rear. The children walk to school in a group along a set route picking up additional ‘passengers’ at specific ‘bus-stops’ along the way.

The bus runs rain or shine and everyone wears a reflective jacket. Along the way children can chat to their friends, learn valuable road safety skills and gain some independence.”

What a wonderful, healthy, carbon free way to get to school.