Frequently asked
questions

The Canadian Cancer Society (CCS) offers free guidance to schools that want to put in place a Trottibus Walking School Bus. The CCS’s main role is to train people responsible for the project, provide them will all the tools necessary, and help them recruit volunteers (as needed). The materials required for the safety of the participants is free (vest for volunteers). Some promotional tools and logistics can be ordered at a nominal cost.

The smooth operation of the Trottibus Walking School Bus brings numerous benefits: there is less traffic around schools, pedestrian safety is increased, children concentrate better in the classroom, parents mobilize around a project that brings people together, and environments conducive to physical exercise are created.

You must first determine what the particular need of your school is to start a Trottibus Walking School Bus (health, safety, school bus not available, etc.).
As taking children from home to school is the responsibility of parents, several of them must first express an interest in the Trottibus Walking School Bus and be willing to get involved in its implementation. A Canadian Cancer Society survey is available to measure parents’ interest level in getting involved and registering their children. This tool will also make it possible to have an idea of the number of children interested in joining the Trottibus Walking School Bus. The ideal is to have the support of your governing board before launching the Trottibus Walking School Bus.

The Canadian Cancer Society (CCS) requires everyone walking with the children to undergo a criminal backround check, receive training on the principles of the Trottibus Walking School Bus (provided by the CCS), wear a yellow vest (provided by the CCS) and that a minimum of 2 adult volunteers are present at the departure of each route.

Search in the Participating Schools tab. You can also contact the Canadian Cancer Society or phone the school office.

On this website, using the Participate tab. You can also visit your child’s school to pick up a copy of the form from the office and get in touch with the person in charge of the project by phone, if necessary. This person’s contact details can be found on the form.

Actually, it would be preferable if you could walk at least one morning per week. The more parents share the responsibility of accompanying their child to school on foot, the more viable the Trottibus Walking School Bus will become.

Participation is according to your child’s wish and not mandatory. Your child does not have to turn up every morning and you do not need to let anybody know of absences.

Your child can join the Trottibus Walking School Bus anywhere on the route. Please note that parents are responsible for their child between the home and the Trottibus Walking School Bus. We strongly urge you to accompany your child until the Trottibus Walking School Bus arrives and/or take your child to the place where the “walking bus” has reached on the route if you missed it at the starting point.

The Trottibus Walking School Bus is based on the same principle as a school bus and cannot wait for latecomers because it must reach school on time before classes start.

The Trottibus Walking School Bus arrives in the school yard a few minutes before the bell rings.*

The CCS requires that there be at least two adult volunters on each Trottibus route. However, it is possible to have one adult volunteer and one teen  volunteer (14 to 17 years old) at all times on each of the routes in operation (parental consent is required to allow teenagers from 14 to 17 years old to volunteer on Trottibus routes and they must have completed road safety training). In addition to this mandatory ratio, the CCS recommends a ratio of 1 adult volunteer for every 8 children.

These volunteers are parents and/or people from the community. They receive road safety training and undergo a criminal background check.

Rain or shine, the Trottibus Walking School Bus is in operation. There is no bad weather, only inappropriate clothing!

* varies according to school.

The role of the adult Driver is to accompany children (departure between 7:15 and 8:00 a.m.) on the way to school in the morning only. The planned routes vary from a distance of 1 to 1.6 km.* The time commitment required of the adult Driver is about 30 minutes per morning.

You can walk from 1 to 5 mornings per week, depending on your availability. The schedule is generally planned for two months.

You will accompany between 6 and 25 children.*

The CCS requires that there be at least two adult volunteers on each Trottibus route. However, it is possible to have one adult volunteer and one teen  volunteer (14 to 17 years old) at all times on each of the routes in operation (parental consent is required to allow teenagers from 14 to 17 years old to volunteer on Trottibus routes and they must have completed road safety training). In addition to this mandatory ratio, the CCS recommends a ratio of 1 adult volunteer for every 8 children.

Volunteers replacing someone are attracted by a particular route and also indicate their availability for replacement. They are called when another adult Driver cannot be present one morning.

If you know beforehand that you cannot be present one morning, it is important to find a replacement who is attracted by your route. Otherwise, contact the person in charge of your route.

You can join the group at a stop near your home. But there must be at least one adult volunteer at the starting point and the volunteer/child ratio must be respected.

Rain or shine, the Trottibus Walking School Bus is in operation. There is no bad weather, only inappropriate clothing!
* varies according to school.