Budget Cuts Mean SJ Kids are Hoofing it to School in "Walking Buses"

Some San Jose school children didn't ride the bus to school today- they walked it. So-called "walking school buses" are taking the place of real buses that were cut from the budget.

Cars stopped and heads turned as a group of about 20 children walked to school, along with their parent bus "drivers" who kept the kids in line.

"They need to follow our rules, which are: be safe, be respectful, and be responsible," said Christy Styler, who walks her daughter Hanna to school.

Hanna says walking to school is way more fun than on a bus.

"We get to walk with all of our friends and our neighbors," said Hanna.

There are four walking school buses here at Bagby Elementary, where Principal Kathy Kimpel says the real buses were cut from the school budget last year.

"Basically what we're trying to do is get less cars around kids, more kids walking and biking," said Kimpel.

When it's raining, the walking school buses plan to trudge on, but with incentives. Kids who "ride" in the rain may get their names announced on Fridays.

Mayor Chuck Reed says he'd like to use the walking school buses as a model throughout the district and city.