Walking school buses a safe, healthy alternative

This letter is in response to the Aug. 10 article by columnist Lenore Skenazy on walking school buses limiting children's independence.

Skenazy encourages parents to loosen the reins and give kids freedom to grow up with independence. The reality in Cedar Rapids is that safe routes to school are lacking, resulting in students being driven a short distance to school. Many routes are missing sidewalks and streets focus on cars, not leaving room for pedestrians. Driving children to school does not increase their independence, nor promote a healthy lifestyle.

I have three young boys. We live a mile from school, a good distance for walking or biking. I would not feel safe letting my children walk or bike by themselves along busy streets, lacking sidewalks, where many cars speed, endangering the safety of pedestrians. I'm excited to see the walking school bus movement enter Cedar Rapids. These programs make parents feel safer by providing supervised walks to school, and supervisors are teaching young kids the rules of the road, instilling skills to empower them to walk to school unsupervised when they are older.

Our school's involvement with the Blue Zone Walking School Bus committee has brought progress with a new school crosswalk, a painted pedestrian zone, and more active kids. Our community has come together and proven that we can help improve the lives of our children. Walking school buses show our kids a safe and healthy alternative to being driven to school.

Julie McMahan

Cedar Rapids