Pitt Professor Gets Walking Bus Moving Around Campus

March 18, 2003

PITTSBURGH—After a two-month hiatus, Deborah Aaron, University of Pittsburgh assistant professor of health, physical, and recreation education and epidemiology, is getting the "Walking Health Bus" back on the streets of Oakland.

Although not a bus in the true sense, Aaron's "walking bus" uses foot power to propel walkers on a route around campus and through Schenley Park. The "bus" leaves Trees Hall at noon with several walkers and picks up additional people at Salk Hall, the Graduate School of Public Health (GSPH), and Posvar Hall, before making the 30-minute loop through the park and back to campus. Depending on where a walker starts, the route takes from 30 to 60 minutes.

"The Walking Health Bus is a no hassle way to take a break from your day, get out of your office, and increase your physical activity," said Aaron, the organizer who created a brochure and T-shirts with the walking bus logo. (Walkers wear the T-shirts on the route.)

Last year, there were about 15 regular walkers with more than 30 people participating on some days. After the Posvar Hall pick up, walkers go at their own pace as they travel through the park.

The Walking Health Bus runs on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday as follows:

Noon Trees Hall

12:02 p.m. Salk Hall (dental school)–Darragh Street entrance

12:11 p.m. GSPH–DeSoto Street entrance

12:16 p.m. Posvar Hall–Bouquet Street entrance

12:18 p.m. 30-minute loop through Schenley Park

For more information, call Aaron at 412-648-8272, or send an e-mail to debaaron@pitt.edu.

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