For parents, getting your kids to school

In Vancouver, almost half of our children travel to school in a car. Most of these trips are less than one kilometre long. More vehicles driving to Vancouver schools means more air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions, more respiratory health problems, more traffic congestion in front of our schools, more traffic accidents and more childhood obesity problems.

• Watch this video to see if Esmeralda Superspy and her sidekick Goober can stop the Evil Dr. Carbon's dastardly plan to stop kids from walking to school. Brought to you by DreamRider Theatre: youth engagement experts in environmental education.

Below are ideas and resources for parents of elementary school children as well as for high school students.

Start a walking school bus in your neighbourhood

A Walking School Bus is a group of children walking to school with one or more adults. If that sounds simple, it is. That's the beauty of the walking school bus. It can be as informal as two families taking turns walking their children to school or as structured as a route with meeting points, a timetable and a regularly-rotated schedule of trained volunteers and parents. Visit the web link above to download your guide outlining how to start a walking school bus at your school.

Walk, cycle or share a ride with a friend

High school students can make a big difference in helping to make Vancouver the cleanest, greenest, healthiest city in the world. Our on the move section has lots of links to bus schedules and trip planners as well as cycling maps and other resources to help you show up to school in sustainable style.