BUS SERVICE FOR THE LITTLE ONES
Coinciding with the opening of the Daisy School, starting in September 2023, the Pascal Institute will offer families and students of the International Daisy Primary School a school-owned bus service, designed to promote independence among young students and transport them to school in a friendly, fun, and sociable atmosphere.
Children will be accompanied both to and from school and will always be supervised by a teacher.
If you would like more information about the service, please contact us and request further details by email.
PEDIBUS
Walking to school
Pascal Chieri Institute
THE PROJECT
Developing a child's autonomy is one of the primary goals of any parent and teacher.
To achieve this, any means is useful: even walking to school, accompanied by adult volunteers (or not) and following pre-established routes.
The Pedibus (or Piedibus) is, in fact, an innovative and safe project, similar to the bus experience, but carried out, precisely, on foot.
The children involved can thus enjoy the opportunity to get to school in a new, original and fun way, walking from the stop closest to their home to the school building and respecting the times and itineraries established by the organizers.
HOW IT WORKS
The operation is very simple. The Pedibus, like a regular bus, begins its journey from a terminal and picks up and "welcomes" young passengers at individual stops along the predetermined route, strictly adhering to the arrival time. If children are late, it is the parents' responsibility to accompany them to school.
Passengers, arranged in pairs and in rows, are guided by two adults: a "driver" at the front and a "conductor" at the rear. To be recognizable, all Pedibus users wear a reflective vest and can be "linked" together in various ways: a string held in each child's hand, a belt connecting them, a mobile tunnel accommodating children and adults, and so on.
The service operates every day, in all weather conditions—sun, rain, and snow.
THE ADVANTAGES
Eco-friendly, safe, fun, and free: the Pedibus offers many benefits, benefiting both children and their parents, as well as the environment.
By walking to school together, children develop a strong sense of cohesion and sociability, building closer and deeper bonds with each other and greater self-awareness. Moving, walking, and fostering creativity—perhaps through reciting nursery rhymes or singing songs—also allows young passengers to learn a healthier lifestyle, physically and mentally, while also fostering independence, self-esteem, and respect for themselves, others, and the environment.
At the same time, parents can also enjoy the benefits of the Walking Bus, leaving their children in the hands—or, better yet, in the "feet"—of trusted and promptly trained people, thus strengthening their self-sufficiency and civic sense. Learning to navigate city streets and recognize signs and directions is essential for discovering the area and increasing one's confidence in getting around. This way, adults will have more time available for their own chores, improving the family budget and thus reducing car and fuel costs.
Finally, let's not forget the positive impact on the environment, with a dramatic reduction in traffic and road congestion—especially in small villages and historic centers—and a redevelopment of the areas surrounding school buildings. This results in a marked improvement in air quality and greater residential attractiveness, with the return to citizens of public spaces previously occupied by cars and improved road safety. The project thus contributes to the development of a new model of sustainable society, where education, respect, and autonomy become the cornerstones of a path to conscious and responsible adulthood.
THE WALKING BUS IN CHIERI
In the Chieri area, the Pedibus can be integrated into the local community by relying on the support of the associations and various organizations that characterize it.
The goal is to create a strong and collaborative network between the Institute, the public administration, and the drivers involved, so as to offer the Chieri community a service that can concretely improve the quality of life of young students and their families and improve traffic flow in the streets surrounding the aforementioned school buildings, which are always congested due to the large number of cars driving their children. The project aims to meet the needs of the local administration, which has been implementing a "green" process for years to pedestrianize the streets of the historic center. This process aims to ensure walkability and avoid the traffic congestion typical of school mornings, finally restoring it to its citizens.
To this end, an app will be developed that will allow a unique QR code to be associated with each student and distributed to up to three people, to protect the little passengers and ensure they are handed over to their designated guardians.
