Abandoned Parents' Shuttle Service
Taking Dorsten by Stride: A Moving Adventure Promoting Safety and Fitness
By: Markus Holtrichter (11.06.2025, 16:06)
Unleash the adventurers within our youth! That's exactly what Dorsten did when they threw down the gauntlet on a unique challenge to increase mobility and ensure safety for their young ones.
The goal? Approximately 1,600 students, whether boys or girls, vowed to give up their routine parents' taxi rides at least 20 times in six weeks—and find alternative, thrilling methods to reach their prize upon the school gates. A whopping 50 percent of these brave souls stood triumphant at the end of the trials, successfully dodging rides and zipping around town on wheels or foot!
The array of transportation tactics was astounding. Bikes, scooters, and nimble feet were their weapons of choice. For each taxi ride avoided, parents granted them certificates—evidence of their newly adopted, fitness-driven lifestyle.
Ready, Set, "Running Buses"!
At the Bonifatiusschule, a fresh spin on the traditional walking bus emerged. A gaggle of boys and girls formed what they named "running buses". Intrigued? Yes, you read that right! The genius plan involved arranging get-togethers before and after school, and then scoping out three routes powered by--you guessed it--their fleet feet! Elated headteacher, Sandra Spangert, confirms, "It was a remarkable success!"
The root of this momentous challenge lies in the enthusiastic "SpoSpiTo" movement pass, an initiative striving to bolster children's health nationwide. By lowering traffic around schools, this move not only adds a refreshing layer of safety but also slashes greenhouse emissions.
Rewards Beyond the Ribbons
To blast off their enthusiasm, primary school students were showered with awards and certificates. Though these tangible rewards were tempting, the true treasure lies in the once-in-a-lifetime fusion of exercise and adventure before and after school. Schools in neighboring Dülmen, Gescher, and Münster couldn't resist jumping on this healthy bandwagon and are now eager to continue encouraging alternatives to the parents' taxi.
Hit play, then seek escape!## Ditch the Taxi: Victory for Dorsten Schools!
- In their pursuit of promoting health and wellness, the students in Dorsten's schools were rewarded for avoiding parental taxi rides by attending "running buses," a unique version of the traditional walking bus that decreased traffic around schools, bolstering children's fitness and contributing to environmental science by lowering greenhouse emissions.
- Beyond the accolades and certificates, the students reaped the rewards of incorporating fitness-and-exercise, adventure, and health-and-wellness into their daily routines, setting a precedent for other schools in environmental-science-conscious communities like Dülmen, Gescher, and Münster to follow suit.
