Bike Bus

FUN, SAFE, PHYSICAL ACTIVITY FOR KIDS BIKING TO AND FROM SCHOOL!

A Bike Bus is a variation of the walking school bus. A Bike Bus provides students the opportunity to bike to and from school with an adult volunteer. Bike Buses can be a great fit for communities that wish to encourage more bicycling to and from school. If you are already ride a bike, you likely have some ideas of the benefits and considerations of leading a student Bike Bus.

Have Fun - Bike Buses have many benefits!

• It increases supervision, safety, and fun for students who already walk.
• It permits additional students to bike, introducing them to an important and easy habit.
• It promotes a healthy active routine for students to and from school.  
• It reduces auto traffic, particularly near schools during drop-off and pick-up times.
• It creates a sense of community by getting neighbors to take turns as bus drivers.

HOW DOES IT WORK?

• Meeting Location: The group meets at a designated Meeting Location and follows a planned route.
• Hop on, Hop Off: Live along the route? Students can join at any point along the route.
• Park and Bike: Drop off or pick up your student at Meeting Location
• Live too far from school?  You can drop off your student at your school’s meeting location – Park and Bike.

To request information about Bike Bus, contact Safe Routes to School Coordinator Wyle O'Neill at woneill@ridesmart.com

WANT TO START A BIKE BUS FOR YOUR SCHOOL?

Contact Safe Routes to School Coordinator Wyle O'Neill at woneill@ridesmart.com to get one started!

Remember the program can always grow; it often makes sense to start with a small bus and see how it works.

• Start by checking with your school to see if other families or kids are already biking to school together - maybe you could join in!
• If your school doesn't have a bike bus, are there any families in your neighborhood who might be interested?
• Choose a route (or routes) and test it with adults for safety. Contact Safe Routes to School for assistance choosing a safe route.
• Create a simple map of your route with information about when you'll meet (e.g., day, time, frequency).
• Post a bike bus article in your school newsletter and on your school’s website. Share the map you created. Your school parent teacher association is also a great place to promote your bike bus.

Ensure that bike bus participants have the following:

• A safe, properly maintained, and well-fitted bicycle (or scooter)
• A well-fitted helmet
• Some practice riding in the street (i.e., a bike bus is not the best place to learn how to ride)
• Secure two adult volunteers to ride with the students, one at the front of the train and one at the back, to ensure student safety and comfort.
• Establish expectations with your participants and review safe group riding skills. Riding safely in the street requires practice and protocol. Contact Safe Routes to School staff for information.
• Start leading your bike bus!

If you want to reach more students and have multiple routes, the following are ideas for doing so.

• Build a team of interested volunteers who can lead different routes.
• Identify safe routes for students coming from various locations.
• Designate convenient meeting places that are safe and have sufficient space for bikes to gather.
• Develop a phone tree so it is easy to communicate with bike bus/train leaders.