Connecting Families, School, and Community through a Walking School Bus in Philadelphia
Source: Pedestrian and Bicycle Information Center (PBIC)
This case study highlights how a walking school bus at Edward Gideon School in Philadelphia began as a strategy to improve student attendance and safety but grew into a broader community-building effort. By organizing students to walk to school together, the program addresses transportation challenges while strengthening relationships among families, school staff, and neighborhood partners. The initiative has also led to improvements along the route and increased engagement from caregivers and local leaders. The walking school bus demonstrates how a simple safety-focused program can build trust, student leadership, and stronger school-community connections.
